As the Clinton administration and the wireless industry reach for the stars with lofty purpose, each would be well advised to heed the call of Chicken Little: “THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!”
It’s hard, I know, for either to believe someone could rain on their parade, what with double-digits commanding both election polls and annual industry growth figures.
But there are gathering clouds that from a distance, at least, look ominous. Perhaps they may blow over, dissolving innocently. Or, then again, the heavens may open with unforgiving rage. OK, OK, I’ll can the lyrical stuff. But you wireless folks should know the business and political environment you work in today could be very different tomorrow.
Here’s what going on: Bill Clinton, barring realization of the chaos theory (which says Clinton will trounce Bob Dole unless Whitewatergate, Travelgate, Filegate, Bimbogate and/or Indonesiagate explode before Nov. 5), will be re-elected.
But it could be the beginning of the end for Clinton.
Word around town is heads will roll next year. The suspicion is that independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who’s been investigating alleged Clinton scandals, will lower the boom. Indictments could fly.
This all probably sounds sensational and nonsensical. But things are happening.
Michael Barone, one of the nation’s top political writers, likens Election 1996 to 1972, “when most voters decided to return an incumbent president to office despite doubts about his honesty and trustworthiness.”
For wireless, morning in America won’t be pleasant either.
This is especially true for personal communications services, which has to finesse its way past environmentalists, organized labor and local officials to site antenna towers. Tree huggers and labor oppose the new Federal Communications Commission hybrid radio frequency safety standard. They say it’s too weak. Backers of the 1992 ANSI/IEEE exposure guideline oppose the hybrid. They say it’s too strict. Both are fighting the issue at the FCC. Both are ready to go to court. Lawsuits are currently pending against the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, Wireless Technology Research et al. alleging cancer and cover-up. Work is halted at WTR until scientists are indemnified-what work there is. The EPA says the hybrid RF standard doesn’t protect against potential long-term, health risks. That’s to say nothing of fiscal and competitive pressures.
Try to build it and they will come-the tort lawyers and creditors. Brace yourself for business in the land of broken dreams.
