Wireless

There are two different forms of wireless technology. Terrestrial or fixed wireless systems transmit data over the airwaves from towers or antennas to a receiver. Mobile wireless broadband services (also referred to as third generation or “3G”) allow consumers to get broadband access over cell phones, PDAs, or wireless modem cards connected to a laptop. The FCC is planning to auction frequencies currently occupied by broadcast channels 52-69. These and other frequencies in the 700 MHZ band are possible candidates for wireless broadband applications.

A number of wireless technologies, corresponding to different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, also have potential. These include the upperbands (above 24GHz), the lowerbands (multipoint distribution service or MDS, below 3 GHz), broadband personal communications services (PCS), wireless communications service (2.3 GHz), and unlicenced spectrum. Unlicensed spectrum is being increasingly used to provide high-speed, short-distance wireless access (popularly called “wi-fi”) to local area networks, particularly in urban areas where wired broadband connections already exist. A new and developing wireless broadband technology (called “WiMax”) has the capability to transmit signals over much larger areas.