Wireless technologies and the national information infrastructure.

Book excerpt: Over the next five to 10 years, wireless technologies will dramatically reshape the communications and information infrastructure of the United States. New radio-based systems now being developed will use advanced digital technologies to bring a wide array of services to both residential and business users, including ubiquitous mobile telephone and data services and many new forms of video programming. Existing wireless systems, including radio and television broadcasting, cellular telephony, and various satellite and data networks, will also convert to digital technology. This will allow them to improve the quality of their services, expand the number of users they can serve, and offer new information and entertainment applications. Before the benefits of these wireless systems can be realized, however, technical, regulatory, and economic uncertainties must be resolved. This report examines the role wireless communication technologies will play in the evolving National Information Infrastructure (NII), examines the challenges facing policy-makers and regulators as wireless becomes a more integral part of the telecommunications and information infrastructure, and identifies some of the longer term implications of the widespread use of wireless systems and services.