Thursday, February 20, 2003

FCC Decision and WiFi Prospects The FCC thing I keep rambling about MarketWatch.com summary of today's FCC decision. Sounds like they have successfully cut the baby in half, leaving everyone unhappy. UPDATE: Chairman Powell's partial dissent The first thing he objects to is the decision to get rid of line sharing. This issue hardly got any play in the run-up to the FCC decision, but it's a doozy. I didn't realize Powell was the one pushing to preserve it. Basically, line sharing is the reason we have a modicum of competition for DSL service. The supposedly deregulatory Powell wanted to keep it, and the supposedly pro-states and pro-competition majority killed it. This matters more than it might appear. Since broadband is the foundation for many new services, including competitive VOIP, having broadband providers who don't control last-mile facilities is essential. The last-mile owners (phone and cable) will use regulatory and business tactics to hamstring what goes on top. The network neutrality concept that several technology companies have been pushing just become that much more important. [via Werblog]   What occured to me immediately was how this will spur further growth in "last-yards" WiFi broadband.  It looks like the most unregulated and fruitful space for high-growth consumer broadband.  May this decision mark the end of an era --- the "last mile era".       10:04:02 PM    comment []

New Role at General Catalyst I've formally started at General Catalyst as a technologist-in-residence.  A big part of my charter will be staying in touch with technical entreprenuers and finding new opportunties in software infrastructure, applications and media.  I'll continue to use my weblog as a public forum for things I'm interested in, and will also try and cultivate a dialog about trends and opportunities that translate into companies. 4:40:09 PM    comment []

TerraPlayer: WiFi MP3 Terra Digital wireless MP3 player jukebox. [via Werblog]   Really cool device, if only as it illustrates the relative simplicty and power of home networks, WiFi, and digital media.  Purpose-built WiFi devices that complement and integrate with existing PCs and servers seem like the order of the day.   4:14:31 PM    comment []