Since I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, like everyone else who Loves America™ and whose vote really counts, I wasn’t able to post a couple of links that I found interesting while Shirleygate was going on. Now that we have begun our long national process of healing, perhaps a few of you may be ready to divert your attention from the tedium of race relations to the fascinating world of technology.
First, the FCC did another cool thing that pisses off the major wireless carriers. They approved a giant “wholesale” wireless network using the 4G LTE (that’s fourth generation, long-term evolution, the new faster communication standard that all US carriers will probably use). What’s given Verizon and AT&T butthurt is the FCC’s ruling that the #1 and #2 wireless carriers in the US can’t use it without FCC approval.
A “wholesale” network is one that sells bandwidth to everyone. The existence of a nationwide, wholesale network could spawn a bunch of non-traditional competitors (like retailers) who lease and resell bandwidth on the network. It also lessens the capital costs of also-rans like Sprint and T-Mobile, who will be able to use the wholesale network in places where they haven’t built towers. (Currently those companies use Verizon and AT&T’s networks, respectively, for roaming.)
Those of you looking for an update on the next generation of nuclear reactors will find one by atomicrod guest posting on the Oil Drum. He examines a few of the new, smaller designs, some of which feature complete passive cooling (no pumps to fail). They are designed to replace existing coal-fired plants.