Little Nuggets of Tech and Telecom: July Discussion Featuring Tom Hazlett

During this webinar, Tom Hazlett, H.H. Macaulay Endowed Professor of Economics at Clemson
University, joined Carolyn Brandon and Jennifer Fritzsche to discuss all things spectrum including the
competing interests fighting for access to spectrum here in the U.S., how those interests are shaping the
evolving spectrum landscape and how the country can emerge from the current spectrum deadlock inside the Beltway.

Some highlights:

• In his book, “The Political Spectrum: The Tumultuous Liberation of Wireless Technology, from Herbert Hoover to the Smartphone,” Professor Hazlett provides multiple suggestions for policymakers on how they might improve on spectrum policies of the past, including the three discussed on our July installment of LNTT:
  • Requiring government entities to purchase commercial wireless services;
  • Using the spectrum reforms outlined in the book to salvage greater civilian use of military bands; and
  • Shifting the methodology for creating unlicensed allocations to markets.
• Professor Hazlett lamented the stalemate in which spectrum stakeholders – including the Pentagon – currently find themselves.
• He suggested federal agencies be required to justify the spectrum they are licensed to use.
• Jen, Carolyn and Professor Hazlett all agreed that the process of getting spectrum to its best and highest use takes far too long in the U.S.