The Wireless Revolution in America
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Transcript of The Wireless Revolution in America
May 7, 2010
Modesto, CA
The Wireless Revolution in America
Diane Smith, Mobile Future
Wireless Revolution
• Changing almost everything we do– Communication– Education– Healthcare– Entertainment– How we interact
Mobile Applications
• The Weather Channel• CalorieCount.com• Traffic.com• Bank of America • Urbanspoon• Walgreens• Pizza Hut• Fandango• iLOCi2
• Members include: non-profits, businesses and individuals
• Works to promote the potential of wireless services for everyone
• Including, California’s more than 32 million wireless users
Mobile Future
Wireless is…
• Virtually indispensible to all aspects of our communities
• Instrumental to solving of our toughest problems
• An invaluable tool to help spur economic growth
Broadband & Economy
• Our knowledge-based economy requires fast, affordable network systems
• Next-generation network deployment creates tremendous job opportunities
• For entrepreneurs, broadband is as vital as roads and a telephone were 50 years ago
Benefits of Broadband
• Education– Students use broadband to take online courses
• Healthcare– Specialists use fiber optic lines to make diagnoses
• Digital Divide– African- and Hispanic-Americans use mobile
devices to connect to the Internet
Wired vs. Wireless
• For rural communities, wireless is an affordable option– In rural areas, deployment of wired broadband
can cost $30,000 - $50,000 per mile– In Wyoming, deployment of wireless broadband
cost $3,000 for 20-square miles
Wireless Investment At a Glance
• Since the early 1980s, wireless has sparked one of the largest private investment efforts in modern history – Nearly 250,000 cell towers in the U.S. carry calls and data– Last year, wireless companies invested more than $20
billion in infrastructure
• Total investment since 1980s = more than $300 billion
Wireless investment in California terms
• $300 billion could fund this year’s Giants and 49ers payrolls for 1,500 years
Wireless Investment Results
• Nearly 25 percent of U.S. households are wireless only – they’ve “cut the cord”
• There are more than 280 million wireless users in the U.S.
• In 2009, wireless consumers– Used more than 2 trillion minutes
and sent more than 1 million texts
Wireless & Traffic• In Los Angeles, a new wireless monitoring system has
cut 20% off rush hour commute
Wireless & Nonprofits
• In the first 10 days after the Haiti earthquake, mobile users donated $30 million via texts
To donateText “HAITI” or “YELE” to
501501
Text “QUAKE” to 20222
Wireless & Agriculture
• Wireless networks and GPS systems can help farmers cut costs– Field mapping means
• No over-fertilization• No overseeding
• Modesto County is 6th largest for California farm production
Wireless & Healthcare• Wireless helps doctors monitor patients in real-time
– Helps manage heart conditions, diabetes and other long-term diseases
• Results in– Fast, real-time diagnoses– Fewer drives to the doctor’s office– Greater ability for patients to live independently– Potential for significant savings on healthcare costs
• Valley Telehealth Partnership is great example for CA
Wireless & Progress
Progress is possible because of…
• Rational regulatory requirements for broadband and wireless
• Which balance the need for– Private investment and speed of innovation
– Service quality and consumer protection
Wireless & Net Neutrality• Today’s wireless networks are sprawling, dynamic
and very complex
• Wireless is also generating jobs and investment
• Tightening of federal regulation could undercut foundation of success
• Network engineers and software experts should run wireless – not D.C. lawyers
Wireless and What’s Ahead• Universal broadband - includes expanding broadband
opportunity throughout central California
• The FCC estimates it will take $350 billion to wire all of America
• Which is $50 billion more than $300 billion the wireless industry has invested over the past decade
Wireless & Entrepreneurship
• From the MBA course I teach at the University of Montana – the biggest questions is:– Q: What do I need to start a company?– A: A first-class communication structure
At Home
On the Road
Wireless Policy
What’s needed?• A regulatory climate that values and respects
continuing investment and innovation is vital for job growth and new business.
• This is especially important to spur economic progress in rural areas
The Current Wireless Climate
• Encourages research, development and new products
• Creates jobs and spurs growthBut…
• To continue this, government at all levels needs to remain an encouraging partner.
• When that happens, we all benefit.