High Tech Forum

New post: Untangling Contradictions in Spectrum Policy

For the longest time, US Internet users relied on cable modem and DSL for their connections. Cable had a big advantage in speed, where it emphasized downloads over uploads.

The tables have turned and the cable industry is in bad shape, losing 431,000 subs in Q4 2024 per MoffettNathanson. This the fifth consecutive quarter of record subscriber loss with no apparent end in sight.

Meanwhile, competitive services Fiber to the Premise (FTTP), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband are adding customers: FWA added 924,000 subs and FTTP added 558,000 during this quarter. LEO is still relatively insignificant, with less than two percent of the market, but we can expect a growth spurt thanks to the pending reset of the BEAD program.

See https://hightechforum.org/unraveling-contradictions-in-spectrum-policy/ for the whole post.

Untangling Contradictions in Spectrum Policy the FCC should ignore the pleas of self-appointed Wi-Fi advocates who don’t have the best interests of Wi-Fi users at heart

I finally canceled cable modem service after 27 years. It’s funny what it would take a networking guy like me – e.g., I wrote the program that my installer used to set up my initial cable modem Internet service – so long to figure out I don’t need it, but I got there in the end.

My inspiration came from watching the cable industry’s chief lobbyist, Michael Powell, testifying at a House Comms & Tech subcommittee hearing on spectrum policy yesterday. Plain as day, the former FCC chairman said: “Wi-Fi effectively IS the Internet.”

That being the case, I immediately unplugged my cable modem and fired up Wi-Fi. Sure enough, I was able to internet through my phone just by turning on Wi-Fi hotspot.

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Goodbye Crusty Old Cable I finally canceled cable modem service after 27 years. It's funny what it would take a networking guy like me - e.g., I wrote the program that my installer used to set up my initial cable modem Internet service - so long to figure out I don't need it, but I got there in the end. My inspiration ca