NYT: The strongly anti-Iraq-War Ron Paul told CNN just last week that it would “really confuse” his supporters if he endorsed Mr. McCain. In fact, Mr. Paul said, he liked Mr. Obama’s foreign policy more. (Mr. Paul has also been quoted saying he believes Mr. Obama will be the next President — not exactly helpful for his fellow Republican. Mr. Paul’s vote of confidence may not be that much of a boon to Mr. Obama either.)

You must go right now and watch It’s Raining McCain. I don’t know what’s more petrifying, his disembodied head or when the lead girl washes her face with him.

Be Afraid of President McCain. No doubt old news to many readers of this space, this article by Matt Welch is worth flagging for those who haven’t read it, especially now that McCain will likely be the Republican nominee. For more wars is all I’ll say. Also, Welch’s new book, McCain: The Myth of a Maverick, is just out.

John McCain claims fair use, tells Fox News copyright lawyers to jump in a lake.

Giving McCain benefit of doubt on public safety spectrum

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I got my hands on the new public safety communications bill that John McCain introduced last Thursday, but which is not yet available on the web. Unlike what has been reported here and elsewhere, McCain’s bill isn’t a straight-up implementation of the Cyren Call plan. With some trepidation, I say there’s actually quite a bit to like.

McCain’s bill does take 30 MHz now slated for commercial auction and designate it for public safety, which in my book is a bad idea because public safety already has plenty of spectrum, and consumers would forgo the benefits of new commercially available spectrum. But here’s what he does: he sets up a “working group” of first responder and government representatives who will write a report to the FCC outlining what an ideal public-private interoperable network on the 30 MHz would look like. The FCC is then authorized to auction the 30 MHz as long as all the bidders agree to use the spectrum to provide a network that matches the report’s specifications. In some ways this is a lot like the Frontline Wireless proposal. If there is no bidder, however, then the Cyren Call plan kicks in and a Public Safety Broadband Trust Corporation, established by the bill, can buy the spectrum using FCC loan guarantees.

So what’s to like? Well, what there is to like is in the first part of the bill assuming the Cyren Call contingency doesn’t kick in.

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Mar 5, 2007 | Comment | Tags: , , , ,

McCain signs on to Cyren Call plan

I’ve written on this blog before about Cyren Call, Nextel founder Morgan O’Brien’s venture to create a national wireless broadband network for first responders. Its plan calls for 30 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band that are slated for auction. A couple of months ago the FCC turned down Cyren Call’s petition, saying Congress’s instructions were quite clear and the Commission didn’t have the authority to refuse to auction the spectrum. Morgan O’Brien spoke at the symposium we held late last year and hinted that he was already working on getting Congress to approve his plan. (Video here.)

Well, today comes word that John McCain has signed on to the Cyren Call plan. This is especially newsworthy since the Senate will soon take a look at the recently passed House bill to implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. As I explained earlier today, that bill addresses first responder communications, but doesn’t mention new spectrum for public safety. McCain said he plans to introduce legislation in the near future to assign the 30 MHz to the Public Safety Broadband Trust the Cyren Call plan calls for. I’m not convinced you need 30 MHz of spectrum to create a viable network, and so I’m not sure it’s time to remove spectrum from efficient allocation by auctions. Verizon hinted a while back that they could do it in just 12 MHz of the 24 already slated for public safety, and the FCC is currently taking comments in a proceeding to create just such a network in 12 MHz. Comments are due on Feb. 26. Note to Verizon: Now would be a fine time to make details of your plan public.

The other problem I see is that the Cyren Call/McCain plan would create one monopoly provider. The FCC plan has the same problem. If it can be done in 12 MHz, why not create two competing networks in the 24 MHz of spectrum already allocated for public safety?

Feb 1, 2007 | Comment | Tags: , ,

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