To support the wide range of applications in diversified fields that FCC's National Broadband Plan is contemplating, we need to characterize broadband as a utility after water, gas, electricity and telephony. So that it will be a simple facility to do all of the different tasks without distractions of its own. We should demand for building up the network infrastructure, in particular that on customer premises, with block-box modules.
Do not be deceived by current offerings on the market. They use "simple" as the smoke screen to promote intertwined end-to-end product and service packages that each is hard to understand, let alone to manage.
It is now possible to put together home networks that can be easily managed by owners without the mystery of "high-tech" flavor that get everyone frustrated. With universal broadband utility outlets, consumer will be at ease in participating various applications.
Please have a look at a pair of white paper type of presentations on the web at:

http://www.avinta.com/phoenix.htm

There are two parts: The "Marketing Overview" is from end-user perspective. The "Technical Summary" provides technical ingredients for realizability.
Comments, recommendations and discussions are welcome.

Abe Chen (2010-04-01, 21:25)
(O) +1 (408) 942-1485
Skype: Abraham.Y.Chen

It seems there are big gaps between the regulation of cable operators at the state and federal level and the result is no regulation. Cable companies are allowed monopolies and limited monopolies yet there is no one protecting the customer's interest. Either the taxpayer should be able to choose their operator in a competitive marketplace or the government should be protecting the consumers' interests against loss of service, choice of channels and price gouging. It is unbelievable that only the customers see the bad pattern of a company like Cablevision whose customers 1) have lost service of the YES network, Scripps Networks (Food Network & HGTV) and now potentially ABC because of Cablevisions bully negotiating tactics which result in the channels going dark for months 2) the refusal of Cablevision to negotiate with popular networks like the NFL network because it will weaken its bargaining position in 2012 when exclusivity for the NFL Sunday Ticket expires for DirecTV . 3) Cablevision's granting of HUGE increases (without any fuss) for networks that it owns through subsidiaries (MSG, MSG+, MSG Varsity, Wedding Channel, AMC, Sundance) which has raised Cablevision customers bills with the sole purpose of putting Cablevision in a better bargaining position with other cable/satellite operators like Time Warner or Comcast for the fees they get paid for the transmission of these channels. Why can Cablevision grant huge increases for networks that it financially benefits from but refuses to negotiate increases in good faith for years with companies that it does not financially benefit from: Scripps or ABC. There is something seriously wrong here. Clarity of regulation between the FCC and State level is needed because right now it seems that the FCC and the State are pointing the finger at the other of who should be getting involved when taxpayers are asking for help. The result is no action and companies like Cablevision trample on customers and we have to take it because we are not allowed a choice and have no goverment support.

Broadcast television is paid for by advertising dollars. That being the case, we as consumers, should not have to pay for it through our cable or satellite TV subscriptions. In other words, we should not have to pay for a broadcast that was freely given to the people over the airways. We contend that this information becomes public domain after it has been broadcast in this manner. broadcast television is paid for by advertising dollars. That being the case, we as consumers, should not have to pay for it through our cable or satellite TV subscriptions. In other words, we should not have to pay for a broadcast that was freely given to the people over the airways. We contend that this information becomes public domain after it has been broadcast in this manner. Join in below to voice your opinion:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=345940997583

Presently, it is very difficult to be sure to find relevant documents in the EDOCS and ECFS unless you know the docket, RM, FCC, DA or other number. There should be a full text search of all FCC documents on the FCC.gov site. The search should be able to be limited to ranges of dates for issue, comment, reply comment (the latter two having a default of "open today". This would assure the ability to find all relative documents on a subject. Currently a search is hit and miss, and you need to be sure you have found all the relevant documents.

An Internet hosted real time wideband spectrum scope from FCC offices in various large cities similar to a weather radar map that can be clicked on and zoomed in on by Internet users.
This will show the average person on which frequencies RF energy is being transmitted on in that area.
The scope picture can have delineations on it that show the boundaries of the different allocations and if zoomed in enough pop up the licensee information out of the FCC database when a particular frequency is highlighted. There is no need to demodulate the content of the transmission but merely show its signal strength, bandwidth, and possibly its modulation type as well. Show from below the AM broadcast band up to the Gigahertz range to include satellite and radar systems. Further development would take the signal strength and licensee information and overlay it on a map via a Geographic Information System to show the signal strength as it radiates away from its source. This could be used to help television owners decide if they are in a fringe reception area and might be better served by subscription TV services due to low signal levels at their location.

Need a blog for public input of regualtory changes to allow suggestions like changing the rules to make cell phone sevice providers design in sufficient prioritized voice capacity to handle emergency traffic during disasters - it just seems like saving lives in an emergency is a much better use of the spectrum than streaming Television / video / and other high bandwidth services in times of disaster. On talking to an executive recently of a major cell phone service provider it is clear it won't happen without regulatory requirements. Just make this a national priority and it can be designed into cell phone systems to automatically prioritize voice traffic during emergencies.