Friday, February 10, 2012

Show Must Go On -- But Stars Urge Caution At FCC

October 31, 2008

From the Nov. 1 issue of National Journal magazine:

A-list music stars usually don't care much about the workings of Washington -- except when you mess with their mikes. The rock band Maroon 5, pop princess Miley Cyrus, country crooners the Dixie Chicks, and "American Idol" contestants Clay Aiken and David Archuleta are among the more than 100 musicians urging the Federal Communications Commission to tread cautiously ahead of a Tuesday vote that the entertainers fear could impair their ability to deliver state-of-the-art live performances.

The FCC has been pressured by companies such as Google and Microsoft to open vacant portions of the television spectrum to unlicensed wireless devices after February's nationwide transition to digital TV, but performers worry that such a move could interfere with wireless microphones at concerts. High-tech firms want to use the airwaves, called "white space," for new wireless Internet services.

Google spokesman Adam Kovacevich said that the 20,000 Americans who have petitioned the FCC to open the airwaves "may not be regulars in the pages of Us Weekly, but when it comes to expanding broadband access ... it's consumers who are the experts, not celebrities."

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Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.


Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.


Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.