Widespread deployment of wireless telephony: Business, legal, regulatory and spectrum challenges

While wireless technologies optimally support mobile applications, recent innovations make the technology more versatile and suitable for both mobile and fixed services. Failure to change assumptions about wireless technology can blunt its commercial promise and ability to help achieve longstanding public policy objectives like universal service. Policymakers can promote more widespread wireless options by including them in the set of potential universal service solutions, even if incumbent wireless operators are content with providing primarily mobile service. On the other hand, wireless operators will need to relinquish some existing regulatory freedoms to become full service carriers, with full market and spectrum access opportunities.