At 05:04 PM 11/21/2002 -0800, Tim Pozar wrote:
One of the scariest things in this regard is that Microsoft has been arguing that in the U-NII band we need to create a "MAC layer" or "spectrum etiquette" that will control and manage all users of the unlicensed band. What they seem to have in mind is something like Listen-Before-Talk and Dynamic Frequency Selection, though they have not revealed to me what they are proposing.I am cross posting this from another list as Mr. Leary makes a good point (even though it is a bit of a plug for Alvarion's BreezeACCESS boxes). Not all unlicensed (aka license-exempt, non-licensed, etc.) is "WiFi" / 802.11. The press is confusing the IEEE protocol with "unlicensed wireless". BAWUG has never said that 802.11 is the only way to go. We should be using the right size hammer for the job. 802.11 is just one tool in the box.
They have had success on The Hill getting language put in drafts of bills from Hollings and Boxer to require the FCC to put a spectrum etiquette in place on the 5 GHz unlicensed bands. This would effectively require some portion of 802.11 protocol to be the basis for ALL users of those bands.
I personally think this is technically a *bad idea* which will turn all unlicensed 5 GHz band into a band controlled by a single industry association (the WiFi association).. So the confusion may be even more damaging.
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