[633] in resnet
Re: Air Space Policy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brad Andrews)
Wed Jan 9 14:04:44 2002
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.33.0201091053090.19588-100000@hal.rescomp.berkeley.edu>
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 10:58:43 -0800
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu>
From: Brad Andrews <brad@RESCOMP.BERKELEY.EDU>
To: RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu
In-Reply-To: <3C3A0FCF.703A0FAD@scranton.edu>
At UC Berkeley, we've decided not to enact a specific policy about
wireless devices (as with the CMU policy and similar ones). We are
currently taking the "We're All In This Together" approach of user
education and wait-and-see. I'm not sure if this will work or not - and
as someone pointed out FCC issues may also come up in the future. Below
is a message from late last year from Cliff Frost, Director of UC
Berkeley's Communication and Network Services.
Brad Andrews
Technical Manager, Residential Computing
RSSP-IT, UC Berkeley
Wireless Networking--We're All In This Together
===============================================
What do *some* cordless telephones, wireless stereo head-sets and
speakers, wireless computer keyboards (and mice, etc) and wireless
computer networks have in common?
1. They are extremely useful.
2. They operate using wireless "airspace" set aside by the FCC for
unlicensed uses.
3. They can interfere with each other and thus fail to operate properly.
4. They can be interfered with by devices such as microwave ovens (and
thus fail to operate properly when someone is heating up a burrito
nearby.)
One of the most exciting new uses for this wireless airspace is in
wireless computer networking. Devices aimed at allowing you to network
your home wirelessly are available for less than $200 and are extremely
popular.
The usefulness of wireless networking is so clear that most Universities,
including UC Berkeley, are working on building campus wide services. The
goal of such a campus wide wireless computer network is to allow any
member of the campus community to network portable computers (including
devices such as Palm Pilots) anywhere on campus.
Obviously, if such a service is to be successful, we will need to work on
minimizing interference problems. Some Universities have responded to
this issue by issuing local regulations regarding the use of the wireless
airspace, including banning some specific devices. For an example of this
approach, see:
http://www.cmu.edu/computing/wireless/airspace.html
UC Berkeley may enact a similar policy, but so far the campus's Wireless
LAN Task Force has taken the approach that the service is so useful we
expect people will work reasonably together to resolve conflicts.
This short article is a request to the campus community to be aware of
the potential for interference that wireless devices may have, and to
please be considerate of the greater good of the campus. If you have
any questions about whether or not a particular device is likely to cause
interference, you may contact the Wireless LAN Task Force. See:
http://airbears.berkeley.edu
___________________________________________________
You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
go to http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html
___________________________________________________
