"Modern Mercury" Can Deliver BEAD Success and Much More
70 years ago, the FCC’s annual report contained a special section on “Radio’s Expanding Horizons.”?In it, the agency proclaimed the immense promise of radio’s future, declaring:
"...radio's horizons continue to be pushed back; that radio is expanding at an accelerated pace; that more individuals and businesses want to use this modern Mercury…that further refinements and cooperation in radio's use are inescapable…"?
Excitedly, the FCC listed close to three-dozen examples of radio’s “diversity of uses,” including:
To control city street and traffic control systems
To route rural school buses
To relay TV programs
To transmit pictures
To bridge the gaps in disrupted wire lines
To provide emergency communications in times of national and local calamity
To direct the movement of machinery on large farms
To contact workers on isolated ranches
Seems like that promise, and so much more (every day), has been realized. “Modern Mercury” hasn’t lost a step in 70 years.?In fact, he’s only gotten more reliable, powerful and evolutionary with time.
Confirming this, over the past year or so, we’ve seen tremendous growth in fixed wireless uptake, surpassing other traditional, wired alternatives.?The underlying selling point seems clear: fixed wireless services, though not an exact substitute to wired offerings, can do pretty much the same things, quickly, cost-effectively, universally and competitively. Consumers agree.
70 years hence, radio's horizons continue to expand at an accelerated pace.?Law, rule, policy or support programs should encourage continued evolution and adoption of this tremendous tool.?We should realize the great agility of fixed wireless technologies to quickly and cost-effectively deliver life-bettering, reliable broadband connectivity to millions of Americans who live in areas still unserved and underserved by wired broadband services.?
Fixed wireless coverage is already where we want to grow, and then some.?This “modern Mercury” – the speedy messenger – should be relied upon to make BEAD, and other of our broadband deployment programs, succeed.?
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