[GB-Today] A Conversation with Michael Powell

[Susan Estrada]

The San Diego Telecom Council and the UCSD International Relations & 
Pacific Studies (IR/PS) co-sponsored "A Conversation with FCC Chairman 
Michael Powell" on December 9, 2003 at UCSD.

Powell shared the stage with Peter Cowhey, Dean and Qualcomm Professor, The 
Graduate School of IR/PS; and Larry Smarr, Director of Cal-(IT)2 and CENIC 
Board Member.

Cowley began the "conversation" on the subject of spectrum policy, saying 
that "spectrum is like Manhattan real estate."  Powell said that the FCC is 
"listening to technology" for communications.  Policy should be based on 
dynamics of technological evolution, e.g., power and miniaturization.  We 
need to empower multiple paths to the home.  Wireless is the most dramatic 
with unlicensed space a hot bed of innovation.    The system of deciding 
who gets spectrum and what it's specifically used for is broken.  Most of 
the spectrum is not used most of the time; "it's not about scarcity, it's 
about access."

Smarr noted that today's devices include both regulated and unregulated 
technology.  He also talked about universities as laboratories for living 
life in the future, and cited the UCSD pre-commercial wi-fi capabilities 
introduced three years ago.

Powell said that he fought to have ultra-wide-band commercialized.  He 
noted that he's hired more engineers during his term than were hired over 
the last 40 years.

With regard to broadband, Smarr commented that many states are taking 
different approaches, and specifically mentioned CENIC and the Gigabit or 
Bust Initiative.  Powell said that efforts like the Gigabit or Bust 
Initiative are great.  He believes that we need a national framework, out 
of necessity.

The archived webcast can be found 
at  http://www.calit2.net/events/2003/12-9_powell.html.  The link is at the 
end of the page.