Where is Barack Obama on the spectrum?

I am simultaneously referring to both the political spectrum and the electromagnetic spectrum.  What are the implications of Obama’s left-leaning policy entrepreneurship for next generation radio technology?

 

There are lot of good things to say about Obama.   His campaign literature is more extensive than any other leading candidate on the use of technology to increase political participation and improve society.  In particular, it states: “Obama will demand a review of existing uses of our wireless spectrum. He will create incentives for smarter, more efficient and more imaginative use of government spectrum.”  That kind of energy and focus may attract the thought leadership that the Federal government needs to foster the long term potential of the spectrum for humanity.

 

I also like Obama’s position on intellectual property.   He wants to reform the patent system and do more to protect intellectual property in foreign markets.  There is a clear role for government in this space.  A strong intellectual property rights regime will help next generation radio technology in addition to nearly all other technical fields.

 

However, the devil is in the details.  Much of Obama’s “new” thinking is actually old thinking.  For example, Obama wants to “ensure that we have enough spectrum for police, ambulances and other public safety purposes.”  This seems to perpetuate the idea that public safety spectrum must be stovepiped – i.e., separated from other users of the spectrum.  Really fresh thinking would eliminate spectrum allocations by user class.  It would focus on standardizing quality of service mechanisms that could be adopted for commercial networks in ways that would meet public safety requirements.  Then public safety could ride the wave of innovation and cost reduction that will come to the commercial networks through competition.  Admittedly, McCain is not much better on this point.

 

Obama wants to establish a multi-year plan with a date certain to change the Universal Service Fund (USF) program from one that supports voice communications to one that supports affordable broadband, with a specific focus on reaching previously un-served communities.  A more daring position would be to call for the elimination of USF, so phone users could pay less in phone taxes.   Universal service is socialism.  It wasn’t a good idea for wired voice telephony and it won’t be good for Internet broadband.  Good communications technology can find its way into American homes without the Government’s help.  For instance, cable television has higher penetration in lower income neighborhoods that landline phones despite decades of USF subsidies for the later. 

Some of Obama’s ideas are very bureaucratic.  He wants to appoint the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer (CTO).  The Government already has statutory requirements for agency Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and a CIO Council. The CTO office will just be a boon for contractors.  It’s a relatively minor point in the big scheme but it still highlights a worrisome propensity for bigger government.

 

My verdict on Obama is not complete.  He still has an opportunity to impress me, but McCain still leads in my book.  Let’s watch as events unfold.