Xref: utzoo comp.dcom.lans:7978 comp.misc:12389
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.misc
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Data-PCS Petition - Please Comment
Message-ID: <1991May5.051210.23293@zoo.toronto.edu>
Date: Sun, 5 May 1991 05:12:10 GMT
References: <52465@apple.Apple.COM>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

In article <52465@apple.Apple.COM> bsteven@Apple.COM (Bill Stevens) writes:
>... I ask you to write to the FCC, not only stating your support but, 
>to the extent you are willing, explaining how you might find Data-PCS of value 
>to you and your organization...
>Please write a letter using the reference number the FCC assigned our petition 
>for Data-PCS:  "RM-7618." ...
>"...We are writing to urge you to grant Apple's request (RM-7618)..."

A note of caution:  there are two separate issues here, and Apple is
(deliberately or accidentally) confusing them.  One is whether spectrum
provision for radio local networks is desirable.  The other is whether
Apple's specific proposal should be adopted as the means to that end.

I would suggest that you should not write to the FCC saying "please do
it Apple's way" unless you have studied the details of Apple's proposal
and understand the tradeoffs involved.  If your position is "radio
networking would be very useful to us, although we don't understand the
specifics of Apple's proposal and its implications", say exactly that.

I have *not* studied the specifics of Apple's proposal, and am not up
on the complex tradeoffs involved in spectrum allocation, so I cannot
comment one way or another on the technical merits of their proposal.
But I will say that this public appeal, and its wording, make me very
suspicious that somebody's trying to pull a fast one.  "Don't worry
about what the fine print says, you wouldn't understand it anyway, just
hurry up and sign it."
-- 
And the bean-counter replied,           | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
"beans are more important".             |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry