awillis@pro-angmar.UUCP (Albert Willis) (04/09/91)
April 5, 1991
To all Users of Personal Computers:
Apple Computer recently asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
allocate frequencies so computer users will be able to transmit and receive
information among personal computers (particularly portable and notebook-style
computers), using radio (instead of cables) in a local radius of about 50
meters indoors. We need your help to make this possible.
We call this new technology "Data-PCS," for Data Personal Communications
Service. We want this capability to be usable the way computers communicate on
networks: at high speeds and sharing the network equitably. Apple has
specifically proposed to the FCC that this capability should be available to
ALL computer manufacturers and users, without requiring radio licenses or
having to pay for using the airwaves.
Radio spectrum is a scarce resource in high demand. Apple would like your help
in expressing to the FCC the potential value of Data-PCS for computer users
everywhere. The FCC has formally asked for comments from interested parties.
Apple would appreciate your giving the FCC your ideas about Data-PCS.
Specifically, we hope you will write them in support of our petition.
Data-PCS is a local capability suitable for offices, classrooms, homes. It can
also provide wireless access to wired networks, such as those which can connect
libraries and research centers.
When Data-PCS was introduced in January, Dr. David Nagel, vice president of
Apple's Advanced Technology Group and the signator of Apple's petition to the
FCC, was quoted in the press saying that "This convergence of wireless
communications and computers will dramatically change the nature of computing.
For example, students and teachers would no longer be confined to a rigid
classroom set-up. Instead, computing and communicationsQand therefore
learningQcould happen any place. Users in the workplace would enjoy similar
advantages. Employees would be liberated from the constraints of physical
networks, which would enhance creativity and personal productivity. "
Our petition concludes:
"Apple's chief executive officer, John Sculley, in a keynote speech at
Educom '87, stated:
'The key strength of twenty-first century organizations will be not their
size or structure, but their ability to simultaneously unleash and coordinate
the creative contributions of many individuals.'
Data-PCS is one of the tools that will enable individuals to realize
this vision. By taking the lead to create a Data-PCS, the FCC will be taking
an essential step to assure that organizations in the United States -- both
educational and commercial -- will be empowered to compete in the twenty first
century and that the United States computer industry will have the versatility
and strength to continue its contributions to our economy and to our society. "
Data-PCS is being received with enthusiastic attention. The New York Times,
the Wall Street Journal and numerous newspapers, magazines and professional
journals have hailed it; you may have encountered discussions of it there or on
PBS and other network and local stations.
Other computer makers and trade organizations have joined with Apple in
refining and expanding the concepts of Data-PCS, and are providing commentary
to the FCC about its value and how it should be implemented. Apple officials
are testifying to Congressional committees and addressing professional
organizations on Data-PCS.
But Data-PCS is now a vision, not yet a reality. It requires enactment of new
federal regulations. When those regulations are passed, Apple and other
companies can make the investments required to make it real.
To participate, you can write a letter using the reference number the FCC has
assigned our petition: "RM 7618." You should address and send your letter to:
Hon. Alfred C. Sikes, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 1919 M
Street, N.W., Room 814 Washington, D.C. 20554
Reference: Rulemaking Docket No. 7618
We can suggest opening wording to make sure the letter reaches the right
people, but from there on we hope you will use your own terms to explain to the
FCC, and to us, your own visions for collaborative, wireless communications
between and among computers. Your letter need not be lengthy, but I assure you
that it will be read and appreciated.
Here's a suggested opening to follow the heading above:
Date Dear Mr. Chairman:
We (I) understand that Apple Computer, Inc. ("Apple") has asked the FCC to
allocate spectrum to establish a new radio service ("Data-PCS") for local area
high speed communications among personal computing devices. We are writing to
urge you to grant Apple's request (RM No. 7618).
(Please describe in the ongoing letter your views on how this function
could be important to you, and perhaps commentary on special projects you are
doing or would like to do that could be improved by the ability to communicate
without wires.)
Respectfully submitted,
Name (and title or function , if appropriate)
This is an urgent request. For maximum impact, your comment should be sent to
arrive by the FCC's initial deadline for comments on APRIL 10. If received
later, they will be considered in a second round of comments, due MAY 10.
Thank you,
Bill Stevens Manager, Wireless Communications Advanced Technology Group Apple
Computer, Inc.
Albert Willis
INET: pro-angmar!awillis@alphalpha.com | America Online: BCS Al
UUCP:..!uunet!alphalpha!pro-angmar!awillis | GEnie: A.Willisklingspo@mozart.cs.colostate.edu (Steve Klingsporn) (04/11/91)
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS, FOR IT IS DEFINITELY QUITE IMPORTANT TO THE COMPUTING INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. Act now!
jf@ap.co.umist.ac.uk (John Forrest) (04/11/91)
In article <14130@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>, klingspo@mozart.cs.colostate.edu (Steve Klingsporn) writes: |> |> I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS, FOR IT IS DEFINITELY |> QUITE IMPORTANT TO THE COMPUTING INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. |> |> Act now! This might be of interest to the computer industry in the States, but does not really apply to the rest of the world. That is, frequency allocations are a national thing, although agreed frequencies must be used for radio, and I suppose similar things. Outside the states it will purely depend on particular countries. I've no idea of the possibilities in the UK/EC. It might be that some agreed frequencies could be achieved, but the chance of the US standard being acceptable is about 1 over infinity. John Forrest Dept of Computation UMIST
phil@shl.com (Phil Trubey) (04/12/91)
This may be a bit premature, but what airwave frequency allocation the way it is (with each country having its own version of the FCC), would this mean that this technology would be a US thing only for an initial period? Is Apple thinking of petitioning other country regulatory agencies (eg. the CRTC in Canada)? -- Phil Trubey | Internet: phil@shl.com SHL Systemhouse Inc. | UUCP: ...!uunet!shl!phil 50 O'Connor St., Suite 501 | Phone: 613-236-6604 x667 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Fax: 613-236-2043
snyderr@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Bob Snyder) (04/16/91)
In article <1991Apr11.140850@ap.co.umist.ac.uk> jf@ap.co.umist.ac.uk (John Forrest) writes: >This might be of interest to the computer industry in the States, but does not >really apply to the rest of the world. That is, frequency allocations are a >national thing, although agreed frequencies must be used for radio, and I >suppose similar things. Outside the states it will purely depend on particular >countries. I've no idea of the possibilities in the UK/EC. It might be that >some agreed frequencies could be achieved, but the chance of the US standard >being acceptable is about 1 over infinity. If the proposal is approved in the United States, and gains usage here, and the frequency isn't in use for a common purpose in other countries, then I think it could be adopted by the ITU. Even so, if the frequency sets aren't too far away, then Apple could release a nationalized version. I don't think Apple would be content to release this network solely in the United States. They will lobby to get the frequency approved in its other major markets. Bob Snyder (N2KGO) Mainframe Consultant Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA SnyderR@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu
chris@idiotix.cs.uoregon.edu (chris hecht) (04/18/91)
Just a thought on radio based networks: What is to stop someone from walking into a building with a radio net and hiding a little xmitter which puts out a Chernoble(sp?) packet every half hour or so. The network would grind to a halt, then be shut down and powered up again, just in time for another packet o' death. Chris
jackb@MDI.COM (Jack Brindle) (04/18/91)
In article <1991Apr17.202011.20724@cs.uoregon.edu> chris@idiotix.cs.uoregon.edu (chris hecht) writes: >Just a thought on radio based networks: What is to stop someone from >walking into a building with a radio net and hiding a little xmitter >which puts out a Chernoble(sp?) packet every half hour or so. > >The network would grind to a halt, then be shut down and powered up >again, just in time for another packet o' death. This depends entirely on the protocol in use. If properly designed, the biggest effect would be to cause a retransmission. It indeed should NOT shut down. Remember, even though the network might be ethernet compatible, it probably is not using ethernet as a link layer protocol over the air. Thus the "packet o' death" would have to be sent within the (probably) proprietary protocol. Makes things a bit difficult. This actually seems like a remote scenerio... (Which thus makes it quite likely to happen :-). Jack Brindle ham radio: wa4fib/7