May 7, 2010

Modesto, CA

The Wireless Revolution in America

Diane Smith, Mobile Future

Wireless Revolution

• Changing almost everything we do– Communication– Education– Healthcare– Entertainment– How we interact

Mobile Applications

• The Weather Channel• CalorieCount.com• Traffic.com• Bank of America • Urbanspoon• Walgreens• Pizza Hut• Fandango• iLOCi2

• Members include: non-profits, businesses and individuals

• Works to promote the potential of wireless services for everyone

• Including, California’s more than 32 million wireless users

Mobile Future

Wireless is…

• Virtually indispensible to all aspects of our communities

• Instrumental to solving of our toughest problems

• An invaluable tool to help spur economic growth

Broadband & Economy

• Our knowledge-based economy requires fast, affordable network systems

• Next-generation network deployment creates tremendous job opportunities

• For entrepreneurs, broadband is as vital as roads and a telephone were 50 years ago

Benefits of Broadband

• Education– Students use broadband to take online courses

• Healthcare– Specialists use fiber optic lines to make diagnoses

• Digital Divide– African- and Hispanic-Americans use mobile

devices to connect to the Internet

Wired vs. Wireless

• For rural communities, wireless is an affordable option– In rural areas, deployment of wired broadband

can cost $30,000 - $50,000 per mile– In Wyoming, deployment of wireless broadband

cost $3,000 for 20-square miles

Wireless Investment At a Glance

• Since the early 1980s, wireless has sparked one of the largest private investment efforts in modern history – Nearly 250,000 cell towers in the U.S. carry calls and data– Last year, wireless companies invested more than $20

billion in infrastructure

• Total investment since 1980s = more than $300 billion

Wireless investment in California terms

• $300 billion could fund this year’s Giants and 49ers payrolls for 1,500 years

Wireless Investment Results

• Nearly 25 percent of U.S. households are wireless only – they’ve “cut the cord”

• There are more than 280 million wireless users in the U.S.

• In 2009, wireless consumers– Used more than 2 trillion minutes

and sent more than 1 million texts

Wireless & Traffic• In Los Angeles, a new wireless monitoring system has

cut 20% off rush hour commute

Wireless & Nonprofits

• In the first 10 days after the Haiti earthquake, mobile users donated $30 million via texts

To donateText “HAITI” or “YELE” to

501501

Text “QUAKE” to 20222

Wireless & Agriculture

• Wireless networks and GPS systems can help farmers cut costs– Field mapping means

• No over-fertilization• No overseeding

• Modesto County is 6th largest for California farm production

Wireless & Healthcare• Wireless helps doctors monitor patients in real-time

– Helps manage heart conditions, diabetes and other long-term diseases

• Results in– Fast, real-time diagnoses– Fewer drives to the doctor’s office– Greater ability for patients to live independently– Potential for significant savings on healthcare costs

• Valley Telehealth Partnership is great example for CA

Wireless & Progress

Progress is possible because of…

• Rational regulatory requirements for broadband and wireless

• Which balance the need for– Private investment and speed of innovation

– Service quality and consumer protection

Wireless & Net Neutrality• Today’s wireless networks are sprawling, dynamic

and very complex

• Wireless is also generating jobs and investment

• Tightening of federal regulation could undercut foundation of success

• Network engineers and software experts should run wireless – not D.C. lawyers

Wireless and What’s Ahead• Universal broadband - includes expanding broadband

opportunity throughout central California

• The FCC estimates it will take $350 billion to wire all of America

• Which is $50 billion more than $300 billion the wireless industry has invested over the past decade

Wireless & Entrepreneurship

• From the MBA course I teach at the University of Montana – the biggest questions is:– Q: What do I need to start a company?– A: A first-class communication structure

At Home

On the Road

Wireless Policy

What’s needed?• A regulatory climate that values and respects

continuing investment and innovation is vital for job growth and new business.

• This is especially important to spur economic progress in rural areas

The Current Wireless Climate

• Encourages research, development and new products

• Creates jobs and spurs growthBut…

• To continue this, government at all levels needs to remain an encouraging partner.

• When that happens, we all benefit.