[Syd-Wireless] Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] Here comes the pain...

[Jon Teh]

On Fri, Sep 20, 2002 at 02:01:58PM +1000, sanbar wrote:
> This is bad. All of a sudden the 2.4GHz band is to become very crowded.
> Just say I set up an AP with an omni right next to the wisp's AP and pump 
> out 4W? Who's interests are best served - commercial or community? Who 
> will adjudicate on any location/signal overlap disputes? What if my AP 
> causes the commercial AP to lose business?
> *Sigh* It's now us against them. Maybe it's time to start and talk 
> about strategic alliances of mutual benefit?
> Please someone tell me I am wrong.

Hi Barry,

I'd have to say, I'm of the opinion this is excellent news. Not only does
it mean that it is no longer deemed a 'carrier' activity to operate an
Access Point with Internet access, commercially, but it would also mean
the same non-commercially. i
Basically, this clears the way for anyone to offer Internet
access via a Community Wireless Network, if they have the resources to do
so.
Sure, there may be times where community and commercial networks may have 
to share the band, but if we try to co-exist, we should be able to. If a 
commercial operator chooses a channel you are already using, sure, you can
try and fight them about who is 'right' to use that channel. But legally,
no one has anymore of a right than anyone else to use it, so it'd probably
be easier to choose another channel. The same goes for if the opposite
situation occurs.

The great thing is, there will be less 2.4GHz operators bearing carrier 
licenses, giving them less clout with the ACA (clout which they never really
had the right to, though).

The fact is, the 2.4GHz band is there for anyone to use, commercial or not,
without ridiculous restrictions such as no Internet carriage. The band is 
there for everyone to use, not just us Community Wireless people, but ISPs,
too.

I know some people have felt resentment towards commercial operators due
to certain unethical operators sprouting FUD based bullshit to the media.
EG. plain lies; claims that the band is 'theirs' and we're polluting it,
and other lies like illegal amplification into high gain antennas is a 
widespread practice.

We should try to avoid conflict with the honest operators, and help flag 
dodgy operators so they can be weeded out by consumers' and managers'
perceptions.

All in all, it's a 2 way street, both commercial and community networks
have their place, and it's good that we're now on a more level and well
defined playing field.

-- Jon Teh (JT)
be weeded out by consumers' and managers' perceptions.

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