What happens when the 2.4GHz band becomes so congested that it’s unusable?

Bob Cringeley can sometimes be irritating (because of the way he makes himself a central part of any story), but even his sternest critic has to admit that he’s very good at explaining complex issues. As here, for example. The basic puzzle is this: according to reliable sources, a company called Fusion Lighting has developed a new kind of street lamp. It gives off radiation in the unregulated 2.4GHz band used by 802.11b — so much so that it is claimed that a single bulb can shut down WiFi nets with half a mile. Why then, asks Cringeley, is the WiFi industry not up in arms about this outrageous threat to its technology? Answer: because the industry has already sussed that 802.11b is on its way to commodification (i.e. low profit margins) and would like to move us quickly onto 802.11a — more expensive (and therefore more profitable) kit operating in the 5GHz band. Hmmm… sounds plausible.

Update on governments which are actively exploring Open Source solutions to their software problems

Useful survey article.

Granada & Co steamed up over the BBC’s ambitions in online education

“A group of educational publishers including Granada, HarperCollins and Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, are calling on the government to regulate the BBC’s attempts to establish an online curriculum for schools, with software and teaching materials delivered over the internet on a broad variety of school subjects.

The group, known as the Digital Learning Alliance, have asked Tessa Jowell, the culture, media and sport secretary, to reject the BBC’s bid to launch an online curriculum next year with £150m of licence-fee funds, claiming the BBC’s proposals could cost the commercial sector £400m over five years.

In parallel to this, a group of 18 educational publishers, led by RM, the listed educational software developer, are going further – they filed legal papers with the High Court in London in April, applying for leave for judicial review. At the heart of the action lies the question of how the BBC’s licence fee is spent, and how far it is appropriate for the BBC to provide services in markets already served by the private sector.” [ more…]

The ‘war blogs’ controversy
“NYT” story.

Hacked 802.11b dodges the coming bandwidth congestion on 2.4GHz?

“CUPERTINO, Calif., June 7 — Anyone looking for the next big thing in Silicon Valley should stop here at Layne Holt’s garage.

Mr. Holt and his business partner, John Furrier, both software engineers, have started a company with a shoestring budget and an ambitious target: the cable and phone companies that currently hold a near-monopoly on high-speed access for the “last mile” between the Internet and the home.

At the core of their plan is the inexpensive wireless data standard known as Wi-Fi or 802.11b, which is already shaking up the communications industry, threatening to undermine the business plans of cellular phone companies by offering a much cheaper method for mobile access to the Internet.

The pair’s company, known as Etherlinx, has taken the 802.11b standard and used it to build a system that can transmit Internet data up to 20 miles at high speeds — enough to blanket entire urban regions and make cable or D.S.L. connections obsolete.” [more…]

Library Filter Law Illegal

A controversial library filtering law is unconstitutional, a special three-judge court ruled on Friday. The Philadelphia court unanimously said that a federal law designed to encourage the use of filtering software violated library patrons’ rights to access legitimate, non-pornographic websites. [more…]

Good example of environmental-style rebuttal

I’ve been arguing that the Internet community has much to learn from the environmental movement in the way it goes about winning hearts and minds and countering industrial land-grabs. Here’s a very good example of how to do it right — a one-page critique of the Hollings Bill which uses down to earth examples of how the Bill would bit on ordinary folks.

Internet Blamed for World Cup Tickets Fiasco – well, whaddya know

“Three internet sites on Wednesday appeared to be at fault over the swathes of empty seats at the soccer World Cup, which has spoiled the backdrop of the sport’s most important stage.

The Japanese site, www.jawoc.or.jp, Korean site, www.2002worldcupkorea.org and the international site www.fifatickets.com appeared to be overwhelmed by the number of people trying to buy last-minute tickets.

Yahoo, the US portal that is providing the technology and support for the official site of the 2002 Fifa World Cup, said that it was not responsible for the three sites selling tickets.” [ more…]

Ahem. I hate to spoil a good story, but surely it was the clowns who set up these sites who are responsible for the fiasco — not the Net.

Slag Heap calls Kettle Black

It seems that Microsoft has been petitioning the Pentagon not to adopt Open Source software because of its security weaknesses!

ReplayTV owners file suit to protect users’ rights.
SJ Mercury story.

Five users of an advanced digital video recorder have filed a legal suit (supported by the EFF) to make the consumer’s voice heard in the big-stakes legal battle between media titans and technology companies. Nice to see the battle finally being taken to the enemy…