Why clip Wi-Fi's Wings?

[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] When economists marvel at surging worker productivity in recent years, they need look no further than the 45 million Wi-Fi capable devices that will be sold this year, providing cheap and convenient access to Internet from virtually anywhere. This remarkable technology, virtually non-existent six years ago, has flourished in a competitive and unlicensed marketplace. But at Boston's Logan Airport, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has granted a monopoly over Wi-Fi signals to one provider that charges $7.95 a day, part of which comes back to the airport. Ceding Wi-Fi to local government gains nothing while damaging the economy. This case is not about the right of local government to impose taxes to fund essential public services. It is about the seizing of assets (Wi-Fi frequencies) for the purpose of destroying competition and imposing monopoly prices. The case is pending before the FCC. If Massport gets away with its frequency grab, other airports, and perhaps local jurisdictions, would no doubt follow suit. That, in turn, would do irreparable harm to one of the most important recent tech innovations. Massport claims that Wi-Fi systems -- at least those that don't provide it with a revenue stream -- could interfere with tower communications or help terrorists communicate. This is not supported in any of its filings with the FCC. Nor does it pass the common sense test. The airwaves in and around airports are used for hundreds of purposes, including cellphones, taxicab radios and local law enforcement. Yet Massport would have us believe that only Wi-Fi poses a problem. Normally, this would be a slam-dunk decision for the FCC. But the five-member board is down one member, a circumstance that often leads to inaction. This lack of direction at the FCC poses a grave threat to the future of Wi-Fi. If governments get their hands on it, being productive while on travel will get a lot more expensive.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20051026/edit26.art.htm