[wsfii-discuss] Fw: public demand for information technology

Thu Sep 21 15:17:35 UTC 2006

-----Original Message-----
From: wsfii-discuss-bounces at lists.okfn.org
[mailto:wsfii-discuss-bounces at lists.okfn.org] On Behalf Of Ken DiPietro
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 8:09 AM
To: Discuss list on the World Summit on Free Information Infrastructure
Subject: Re: [wsfii-discuss] Fw: public demand for information technology

The next step is going to be replacing the existing telecommunications 
infrastructure in many of these cases with licensed exempt equipment (as 
Dave mentions in a later post) even if there is a modest fee to help pay 
for the infrastructure build. I believe this will be brought about by a 
combination of three factors; 1.) a drop in the cost of very high 
bandwidth radios capable of servicing huge numbers of people, 2.) the 
understanding by local entrepreneurs that an investment in this 
equipment will be good for their profit margins as motivation to deploy 
this type of infrastructure, 3.) local governments will understand that 
economic development will benefit by allowing these networks to be built 
which will be good for their tax revenues - because, let's face it, that 
is what every government I am familiar with is concerned with.

Respectfully,

Ken DiPietro

-----

The trouble is that there can be BIG obstacles - almost all political - to
get 'local governments' AND national governments to 'replace existing
telecommunications infrastructures' with low use-cost license exempt
telecommunications. There are many vested political and business interests
that will, and do, lobby against governments changing the rules that made
them rich with the 'old' infrastructure. That is just as true in the US and
other developed countries as in India, Nepal, or Indonesia. Witness the
battles going on right now in the US Congress over 'net neutrality' which
has all the big telephone companies lined up against all the muni-wireless
advocates and practitioners)

Among the messages I am bringing to the Aljaldi Wireless Summit in
Dharmasala, India next month, are suggested ways to convince administrations
their legislatures, AND their bureaucrats and Media, to embrace the new,
disruptive, net infrastructures. Just because it is 'good for the people'
does not mean its also 'good for the bottom line of incumbents.' Or revenues
for government itself.  

Mahibir's success in getting the Nepalese government to make unlicensed
wireless 'legal' was laudable. Not sure it will be that fast or easy in many
other countries. And VOIP is still not legal there.

Dave Hughes
dave at oldcolo.com
www.linkingeverest.com

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