Gay Marriage and 4G
04/08/2009 15:40
Is Iowa a catalytic event for gay marriage? The legalization of same-sex matrimony in that Midwestern state – now officially more “progressive” than California (take that, coastal intellectual New York Times-reading liberal types) – could be a bellwether for the gay rights movement. Or, it could unleash a massive backlash that threatens to effectively kill all other same-sex, knot-tying initiatives that are pending across the nation, in places like New Hampshire and New York. And I think WiMAX could learn something from this. Because WiMAX is kind of the “gay marriage” of telecom. Human nature is human nature, and the fact is, people like to stick with a winner. It’s a proven fact that folks will be more likely to accept something if they think it’s a mainstream idea. It’s the classic “everyone’s doing it” concept. Evidence that anecdotally supports this includes the fact that Vermont quickly followed Iowa in rainbow suit, swapping out a civil union statute for a same-sex marriage law this week. The District of Columbia’s city council this week also voted unanimously to recognize same-sex marriage certificates from the states in which they are allowed. And New Hampshire’s senate could start debate on the issue as early as April 9. But don’t think for a moment that people who feel a strong anti-position on gay marriage will stand by idly – such as those that rabidly fought for Proposition 8 in California. Prop. 8 instituted an amendment to the state Constitution banning same-sex marriage in a state where the gay rights lobby is probably stronger than anywhere else in the United States. A few victories for the gay rights movement could pale in comparison to any sort of information and support push from the “marriage is between a man and a woman” side of the culture wars. This is a movement that knows how to be heard, has avenues and echo chambers at its disposal, and about 40 or so percent of the population behind them or on the fence about fully legalizing John and Jake’s matrimonial bliss. Or Julie and Jenna’s. Or Jane and used-to-be-Jack-and now-call-her-Jackie’s, for that matter. In a word, this isn’t going to be easy, for either side. How does this compare to WiMAX? Well, I’m going to clarify before I even begin: Using Clearwire as an example here, but I’m not in any way calling Clearwire “gay” or insinuating it supports that side of the debate (or doesn’t for that matter – I have no idea), so just put away those flame pens right now. But I think in terms of the role it occupies in sparking a greater discussion about what life will look like in the future, it fits. Consider: Clearwire’s had some successes. It’s a different concept for the majority of the population, a new challenger on the national stage. It’s asking for a whole new mindset from the people that live around it. It’s on the upswing. It is, in short, the gay marriage of telecom! Think about it. It’s dealt with naysayers, including former supporters, who became a bit discouraged when Clearwire wasn’t making its business model the way it said it would with market deployments, languishing with its two initial rollouts (Baltimore and Portland, Ore., just like gay marriage’s Massachusetts and Connecticut). But then all of the sudden we have momentum – that attractive mainstream idea status I mentioned earlier. We’ve got Comcast and Sprint signing on as Clearwire MVNOs, just like Iowa and Vermont signed on to GLBT matrimony, plus a multi-city deployment plan for 2009 that suddenly seems possible (please see paragraph 2). Clearwire's also filling in the details, with a cool Wi-Fi-to-WiMAX conversion appliance to enable Wi-Fi devices on the Clear network, and Samsung signing on with a WiMAX Internet tablet – just like gay wedding-planning services are taking existing resources and repackaging and tweaking them for the new paradigm. And, it's also showing us how things can be more open. How any manner of device is OK. Coaxing niches for previously hidden content out of the closet, as it were. Will the incumbents lash back? Marginalize the idea? And if so, how? 3G might become the fall-back position for a while (though not forever). LTE’s been on a roll since Mobile World Congress in February with Verizon Wireless’ announcement of its suppliers. And the momentum continued through last week’s CTIA with Verizon again being very vocal on its plans for the mobile broadband initiative. But then when it came out that Qualcomm’s chipsets might be delayed to the second half of 2010 – in turn delaying handsets into 2011, possibly – LTE has lost some wind out of its sails based on speculation around these device issues. Point is, the discussion on the wireless approaches we’ll see in the next few years will be just as epic and just as game-changing to the tech landscape as the discussion on gay marriage in America is to the social landscape. It just depends on whether the population wants that kind of change. Does it? Do consumers see the value of a new kind of marriage, err, I mean, mobile broadband? What sort of educational component will Clearwire et al need to implement to capitalize on their for-now on the upswing status? Where will Rush Limbaugh come down on all this? Will it be uncomfortable to explain to teenagers? Stay tuned. To Rachel Maddow, or Sean Hannity, as is your preference.
User Comments !
ARE YOU KIDDING? Comparing the tech and social "landscapes" and then relating WiMAX to gay marriage??? I doubt you even know a gay person! You need stick to what you actually know about and stop trying to compare something that has absolutely nothing to deal with real life social issues like gay rights. Editor types like you have no right to use this forum to espouse your obvious narrow minded views of under the disguise of being professional writer. But then again, like you said, people like to stick with a winner...I wonder who you voted for last election?
Posted by: Jake Nobody | April 09 2009 07:18:25
Well, I appreciate your...passion on the subject, though I actually wasn't saying anything one way or another about gay marriage itself, only that it's a social issue that's being talked about that's challenging old ways of thinking. I see WiMAX as filling a similar role within the existing incumbent-dominated mobile landscape. And it's a blog, after all, so I was also just trying to be creative. My gay friends actually seemed to like it.
Posted by: Tara Seals | April 09 2009 07:53:36
Unfortunately the whole premise of your article is so confusing that I couldn't even finish reading it. Next time, either avoid comparisons all together or try a simpler analogy that most people are able to relate to.
Posted by: Bri | April 09 2009 08:04:36
Tara, Thanks for the titillating article. Coming from Massachusetts (and Boston, nonetheless), I must admit Clearwire and WiMax get more media attention than gay marriage these days. While incumbents are good at squishing small-fries who threaten their economic rents, the current forces of openness are supported by much larger players. It's hard to push 6-ton gay gorillas back in the closet, such as it is. Thanks again
Posted by: Steve Hilton | April 09 2009 08:16:16
While I'm on the fence about about gay marriage AND WiMax both, I must say your article was just plan ridiculous. I too only got about half way through before I lost interest due to your silly analogy.
Posted by: Michael | April 09 2009 09:20:47
It's not perfect, but it is a good analogy. WiMAX does get unfairly beat up even though it's happening and struggling to break through the mass-LTE mentality and typically ingnorant coverage by the press, Ms. Seal excluded of course. WiMAX is struggling right now, and it's up to the groundbreaking rollouts in a few key places to prove themselves. From there, all the WiMAX-will-never-happen nonsense will disappear. Nice article.
Posted by: A Nonny Mouse | April 09 2009 11:25:50
Interesting analogy....WiMAX seems to have a hate hate relationship with public perception. It really has a terrible public image. It will be interesting what the next 12 months brings for this struggling technology. We'll see if the big projects rolling out will be enough.
Posted by: Rob | April 09 2009 19:40:10
The legalization of same-sex matrimony in that Midwestern state – now officially more “progressive” than California (take that, coastal intellectual New York Times-reading liberal types) – could be a bellwether for the gay rights movement.
Posted by: Acai Berry | April 21 2009 00:06:22
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