WASHINGTON-Wireless technology increasingly is seen as the end-all, be-all to the digital divide issue. But will it get here soon enough?
The Clinton administration, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service, said last month that wireless solutions to the digital divide-both fixed and mobile-are not quite here. And while wireline services such as digital subscriber lines and cable modems are being deployed, they aren’t available in rural America.
The digital divide describes the gulf that exists between those who have access to advanced telecommunications and those who don’t. The divide is both economic-rich vs. poor-and geographic-rural vs. suburban.
President Clinton has been using the bully pulpit of the presidency to highlight the digital divide, urging telecommunications companies to bring advanced technologies to rural and economically disadvantaged areas.
At the same time the president was putting the spotlight on the digital divide, some Republicans and conservative organizations-such as the Heritage Foundation-have questioned its existence.
Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference, said the digital divide is actually a digital opportunity for the New Economy. Watts called for tax credits and regulatory relief to help spur advanced telecommunications.
At Clinton’s most recent stop in North Carolina in late April, he was joined by Dr. Irwin Jacobs, chairman of Qualcomm Inc.
Jacobs demonstrated Qualcomm’s High Data Rate technology, showing the president the difference between using wires to download e-mails and going without wires. Not surprisingly, wireless was faster.
But Qualcomm doesn’t expect HDR technology to be commercially viable until 2002.
The NTIA/RUS report notes Sprint Corp. has deployed multichannel multipoint distribution system technology in Phoenix, and Nucentrix Broadband Networks is building out a system in two of its 58 license areas. Nucentrix plans to offer service to second- and third-tier markets, with service built out in 18 markets by the end of 2001. Plans for areas smaller than that are not mentioned.
The report dovetails on comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by NTIA that called for wireless carriers to be given eligible-telecommunications-carrier status so they will be able to receive universal-service subsidies on tribal lands.
In addition to tribal lands, where the FCC seems to have jurisdiction, wireless companies-especially Western Wireless Corp.-are urging the commission to force states to grant them ETC status to serve rural America.
The NTIA/RUS report was prepared at the request of 10 senators, who asked to be apprised of the status of broadband deployment in rural America.
In addition, the FCC is studying the issue. Carriers must submit a five-page form on the status of broadband deployment within their service areas by May 15. Information for the FCC report is being gathered on a state-by-state basis, and mobile carriers should use the billing address to determine the location of the customer. This information will also be reported based on ZIP codes so the FCC can determine service territories.
