PCAST MORE BULLISH THAN CLARKE ON WI-FI USE
Bush Administration should encourage deployment of secure Wi-Fi networks “rather than discouraging the use of wireless technology as the industry continues to evolve,” White House advisory panel recommended Mon. Report provided stark contrast to White House Cybersecurity Czar Richard Clarke, who in speeches and his draft report National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace has argued that consumers and federal agencies should be wary about adopting Wi-Fi technology. President’s Council on Science & Technology (PCAST) Mon. unanimously approved its own report to President Bush titled Building Out Broadband at meeting at State Dept. on one-year anniversary of Bush’s signing of Executive Order creating PCAST.
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When PCAST first said it would examine ways for administration to boost broadband deployment, specifically through focus on demand side (content distribution, new services, etc.), some trade groups and industry officials hoped it would embrace sweeping broadband agendas of TechNet, Alliance for Public Technology (APT), Information Technology Assn. of America (ITAA) and Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP). PCAST cited those agendas in its report, and its 21st Century Infrastructure Chmn. Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of N.C. State U., said she was pleased that PCAST’s report reached same conclusions on the importance of ubiquitous broadband deployment. But Building Out Broadband doesn’t call for aggressive action on part of Administration.
PCAST “will not call for federal intervention in the marketplace. We will not call for federal funding of last- mile infrastructure,” report said (italics in original). In examining role of federal govt., Comcast Cable Pres. Stephen Burke, member of the PCAST broadband committee, said there was consensus that role was “not to provide broadband.” Instead, PCAST called for indirect ways to promote broadband’s value, such as accelerating e-govt. initiatives and encouraging local communities not to slow broadband deployment through burdensome right-of-way (ROW) actions. “The first thing we would have the federal government do is remove barriers,” Burke said, particularly on ROW and on spectrum availability for both licensed and unlicensed spectrum use.
Report said there were 4 impediments to ubiquitous broadband wireless deployment: (1) Insufficient licensed and unlicensed spectrum. (2) Significant costs of obtaining spectrum and deploying networks. (3) “Legitimate concerns about the security of existing wireless networks.” (4) Concerns about interoperability going forward. PCAST applauded NTIA for its July report on freeing up broadband spectrum and urged Administration “to expeditiously conclude the process.” To help that, PCAST recommended that White House encourage federal agencies to use spectrum more efficiently, surrender spectrum that was lying fallow, pursue “market-based approaches for meeting federal users spectrum needs” and create secondary markets. PCAST also recommended Administration align U.S. spectrum allocations with global ones.
PCAST called for increased consumer awareness of Wi-Fi, with Fox specifically stating that the Administration should promote home wireless networks. As for security concerns, PCAST was encouraged by private-sector advances but said White House should take “a proactive role in the funding” of R&D for wireless security “in cooperation with industry and in pursuing other appropriate policies that foster strong wireless security.” PCAST broadband committee member Dell Computer Chmn. Michael Dell, who participated via conference call, said there had been “a lot of work in industry in providing enhanced security for wireless systems.” Dell said 20 million Wi-Fi-enabled devices would be sold this year, increasing to 40.3 million by 2004.
Elimination of ROW barriers was called “job one” in promoting broadband, but Fox said PCAST was not trying to suggest that municipalities didn’t have right to manage ROW. But report “asks the President to make this a special priority in urging state and local officials” to eliminate “ROW barriers to broadband deployment.” Other recommendations of report: (1) Purchasing power of federal govt. could be “a leading force to bring down unit costs for broadband facilities.” (2) Careful consideration should be shown in using broadband with higher education programs funded under No Child Left Behind Act signed into law this year. (3) Broadband should be integral as various law enforcement agencies coordinate information sharing in homeland security efforts. (4) Federal govt. should encourage use of teleworking and telemedicine to promote broadband adoption. Rep. Wolf (R-Va.), prominent telework promoter, addressed PCAST after adoption of report.
Bottom line, according to report, is that “the design of broadband systems and the decisions to deploy them are appropriately the work of the private sector.” The report was adopted unanimously, and, after any technical corrections needed are made, will be forwarded to President Bush. Semiconductor Industry Assn. Pres. George Scalise, PCAST member, said he felt report was “useful as a policy document for the President.”