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open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"Together with major African players MTN, Airtel and Orange, the GSMA has put forward proposals to bring ultra-low cost 4G smartphones priced between $30 and $40 to Africa. Currently, comparable entry-level devices typically cost over $200" - developingtelecoms.com/telecom-tech...

How would a sub-$30 smartphone affect Africa? - Developing Telecoms

Smartphones are now so ingrained in our lifestyles that we see them as our gateway to connectivity. In developed markets, society is increasingly structured on the reasonably accurate premise that eve...

developingtelecoms.com

December 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Tao Neuendorffer

@taonf.bsky.social

Exiles on Mind Street
• Spoonman
• Justin Hall
• Vagabond Jim
• Howard Rheingold @hrheingold.bsky.social

Interview by R.U. Sirius @rusirius.bsky.social
Photos by RE: DESIGN
#Mondo2000 #Cyberpunk
archive.org/details/Mond...

In some sense, they're part of a community of idealistic exiles from Hotwired, hired there to build a cutting edge webzine only to be shunted aside for taking the medium where it wants to go.
But in the process of dreaming a beautiful web of communities, they couldn't stop dreaming. And so there evolved Jonathan Steuer's Cyborganic, a web and In-Real-Life community that has succeeded in becoming a vital center among the younger techno-hippie types. And there's the other exiled Hotwired web-master, Brian Bellendorf's own Organic Online, running in parallel to Cyborganic—more a link in the Web than a competitor.

And now, here comes the man his-self, the boomer Editor-In-Chief of networking idealism, dOOds and gurls... it's Howard! He of the infamous psychedelic tennis sneakers, now electric Kinko's. He edited the Whole Earth Review for many years and was deeply involved in the influential online community, The Well.
When The Well, under new management, showed a disinterest in the opinions of its netizens, he lead a small troop of pilgrims off to form The River, a cooperative bbs that hasn't quite jelled yet, but is still trying. And now, he's front page techno-news with Electric Minds, a webzine-in-progress with some apparent wallop. With his partner, Randy Haykin, founding vice president of sales and marketing for Yahoo!, providing business cred, Electric Minds announced itself BIG as "pioneer-ing the social Web... the next phase of the Virtual Community Movement." Of course, press releases are supposed to be declamatory.
In person, Howard Rheingold carries a degree of skepticism, partly the result of being portrayed as a naïve, over-optimistic fool. I can relate.

Howard's team is a kind of who's who of net activism, ranging from the ridiculously young to the boomerly, with voices ranging from utopian (Mark Pesce) to cynical (Bob Rossney).

Camped on the outskirts of San Francisco's trendy Silicon Gulch, down by the waterfront in the old software district,

the Electric Minds office is in chaos when I arrive. They're still moving in.
Furniture is upended.
There's no receptionist.
Howard throws himself down on a beanbag chair and introduces me to the staff members who happen to be available for today's discussion.
I'm a little disappointed that it's a boys club. They all remain at their computers-talking and tapping at keys simultaneously—supergeek parallel processing. Let's meet them:

• Spoonman: No, not that really old guy in the Soundgarden video who plays with spoons. In his forties, this Spoonman (aka Mark Petrakis) is famous in the Bay Area for his big chaotic live Electronie Vaudeville spectacles. His Cobra Lounge performance gatherings are living proof that performance art can be big fan.
A networking veteran, he was putting together a San Francisco-based SF/Telecircus, originally for inclusion in Hotwired, when the winds of change shifted.
So now he's putting together the multimedia Worldwide Jam section for Electric Minds.

• Justin Hall: Don't let his unconscionably pretty face and generally sweet disposition fool you. 22-year-old Justin Hall can be a sharp young smartass when he wants to be.
The kid virtually conquered the Web with "Justin's Links from the Underground." In those prehistoric days of the Web about a year or so ago, you might have heard his name whispered in awe among net surfers. Too young to have a Curriculum Vitae, he may never need one in the conventional sense.

• Vagabond Jim: Previous to designing the entire website for Sega at the age of 19, Jim's basic experience was being a kid and then being a young man in college. Oh yes, and being an acid head. Now he's the Production Manager.

Pace: Some will probably bristle at having Electric Minds portrayed largely as a vision-in-exile from Hotwired but what the hell, anything for a good title.
And I just wanted to be able to say

"USE THE FORCE, HOWARD!"
—R.U. Sirius

HOW DID THEY GET LIKE THIS?

R.U. Sirius: Howard, there seems to be a trajectory around your involvement in net community activism. It runs from The Well to a period where you attempted to edit Hotwired. And then you started The River, a co-op bbs made up primarily of wellheads distressed by the activities of the new owner, Jonathan Katz. And now you're into Electric Minds.

Howard Rheingold: The Well experience was one where the notion that users can create the content 1st became deeply ingrained. And participating in a public discourse online is certainly something I like to do. It's a habit that I've had for more than ten years now... hours a day! So, despite an increasing awareness of the pitfalls, I'm still a believer in the potential of the Internet for many-to-many communications. Some of that is just for business. Mostly frivolity. But sometimes community actually happens. That's the foundation.

See, it's not just, "Here we are. We're the publishers. We’ll sell you this stuff and you give us your money. And we'll sell your attention to advertisers." It's a new kind of medium where the audience becomes part of the show.

Now, the whole Hotwired debacle had it's roots in a time when Jonathan Steuer was a grad student at Stanford. He had the keys to a terminal room that had a bunch of work stations and a Tl connection. So people would head down to Stanford from San Francisco late at night, bring a bunch of junk food and some tunes. We'd sneak into this room and have fun with the Net…
So I got drawn into creating Hotwired through Jonathan. It was really Jonathan and I and Louis and Barbara planning out the original design. But, ultimately there were two conflicting visions. There was the vision of people who really live online, a populist vision of this many-to-many medium. And then there was the idea that it's a franchise of Wired…

Anyway, some of the things that I wanted to do when I first saw the Web, and didn't get to do for Hotwired, I still want to do.

HR: Wouldn't it be great if Americans supported the artists with their tax dollars? Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to sell ads in order to pay people decently? If you're an artist in the Netherlands, the money appears in your bank account every month. Of course, there's a 60% income tax rate…
So, the question, is this commodification? Yes it is. I wish it didn't have to be. What's the solution? The working classes are going to revolt and set up a dictatorship of the proletariat and then resources will be allocated fairly?

RU: But just looking at it from a really broad perspective, not taking it so personally. Looking at the amount of money being made off the Net and the Web.
Contrast that with the value being put into this system by content providers and what we're getting in return.
Shouldn't some of this money go back in the other direction? It could be a resolution to the unemployment problem... lots of people paid to be content providers..

HR: Yeah, I like the idea. We're trying to do just that. It starts with a minority of people being paid to make great conversation. That's a start.
The whole idea of The River is exactly that. The people who make the conversation, which is the content, which is the product, own and govern it. It's a co-op.
Of course, the thing is that co-ops are really raucous and endlessly argumentative. Endless boring arguments till the only people left are the ones who like to argue.
Either way, there's problems. I think one thing that's uniquely American is that we think that problems have solutions.

VJ: But one of the things I love here is that every time I come to work, something new happens that changes how you think about things. Different approaches to design. Things come up that I wouldn't think of if it weren't for the creative environment and collaboration. Things happen in your brain that wouldn't ordinarily happen. It's why I like drugs and it's why I like collaborations.
The people around you modify your brain.

November 29, 2025 at 1:49 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Kim Andrew Elliott

@kaedotcom.bsky.social

"structured from 1942, it occupies a singular position: quite 'independent' to spread a more brutal propaganda than the [Vichy's] National Broadcasting."

Les radios au temps de la TSF @radiotsf.bsky.social · 2d

Radio Révolution, une émission du régime de Vichy conçue comme un poste clandestin pour attaquer les Alliés, les Juifs, la République et la France libre. Une voix parallèle portée par une cohorte de journalistes collaborationnistes.

www.radiotsf.fr/radio-revolu...

Radio Révolution, la voix plus ou moins secrète du régime de Vichy

Lancée en 1942, une émission de propagande du régime de Vichy a eu un certain succès sous le nom de Radio Révolution.

www.radiotsf.fr

November 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

3g4g.bsky.social

@3g4g.bsky.social

The 3G4G Blog - IET Lecture by Prof. Andy Sutton: Point to Point Microwave Radio Systems - blog.3g4g.co.uk/2025/11/iet-...

#3G4G5G #BT #BTTower #Microwave #Backhaul #UK #Bands #RadioSpectrum #IET #Eband #Polarisations #XPIC

IET Lecture by Prof. Andy Sutton: Point to Point Microwave Radio Systems

Point to point microwave radio systems have been with us for more than eighty years, yet they rarely attract much attention in an era where ...

blog.3g4g.co.uk

November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"Dutch public broadcaster NOS on Tuesday said it had stopped posting on Elon Musk's social media platform X, as it said it did not want to facilitate the spreading of disinformation.
'The platform no longer fits our vision on how we want to present news'" - www.reuters.com/business/med...

www.reuters.com

November 26, 2025 at 10:10 AM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

UK, 1 of 3: "The man whose leaked memo brought down the BBC director general & led to crisis at the public broadcaster has said Donald Trump's reputation was not damaged by the Panorama editing scandal" - deadline.com/2025/11/mich...

Man Whose Leaked Memo Led To Chaos At The BBC Says Botched Donald Trump Edit Did Not Damage The President’s Reputation

Michael Prescott has said Donald Trump was not damaged by the BBC Panorama edit that has caused the resignations of Tim Davie, Deborah Turness.

deadline.com

November 24, 2025 at 10:07 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

UK: "BBC Chair Samir Shah Has Full Backing Of Board Amid Trump Chaos, As Claims Of Conservative Coup Are Branded 'Ridiculous'" - deadline.com/2025/11/bbc-...

BBC Chair Samir Shah Has Full Backing Of Board Amid Trump Chaos, As Claims Of Conservative Coup Are Branded “Ridiculous”

BBC chair Samir Shah and Robbie Gibb were grilled by MPs of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee about the botched Donald Trump 'Panorama' edit.

deadline.com

November 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

US: "Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy praised President Donald Trump for coming out swinging against his own FCC Chair Brendan Carr over plans that would allow major TV networks to significantly expand their national reach by raising local ownership caps" - www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/f...

www.newsmax.com

November 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"The European Broadcasting Union has outlined new rules regarding voting at the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be implemented for the next contest in 2026" - eurovoix.com/2025/11/21/e...

EBU Announces New Rules for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 - Eurovoix

The European Broadcasting Union has outlined new rules regarding voting at the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be implemented for the next contest in 2026.

eurovoix.com

November 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) presents 2 key reports exploring how Wi-Fi enables the future of connected & autonomous mobility": 'Wi-Fi Opportunities for
Connected Vehicles' wballiance.com/resource/wi-... & 'Connected Vehicle--Wi-Fi Opportunities & Use Cases' wballiance.com/resource/the...

Wi-Fi Opportunities for Connected Vehicles - Wireless Broadband Alliance

Download Here The connected and autonomous vehicle market is transforming the automotive industry — growing at a projected compound annual growth rate of 22.3%, nearly five times faster than the ove...

wballiance.us1.list-manage.com

November 19, 2025 at 9:32 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO

@thenrao.bsky.social

NEW: Astronomers Discover Fastest-Evolving Radio Signals Ever Observed from Black Hole Tearing

The team - using the NSF Very Large Array and ALMA along with several partner telescopes - discovered the first radio-bright tidal disruption event (TDE) outside a galaxy’s center.

#RadioAstronomy #NRAO

Astronomers Discover Fastest-Evolving Radio Signals Ever Observed from Black Hole Tearing Apart Star - National Radio Astronomy Observatory

A groundbreaking NRAO-led international study has discovered the first radio-bright off-nuclear tidal disruption event—revealing the fastest-evolving radio signals ever observed from a black hole tear...

public.nrao.edu

October 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Sascha Trippe 🛰️ 사샤 트리페

@saschatrippe.bsky.social

China is investing big in #RadioAstronomy.

#EAVN25 🧪🔭📡

Talk by Wu Jiang (SHAO) showing 2 new 110–120-meter radio telescopes under construction.

November 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM

Reposted by open-spectrum

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez

@agomezfcc.bsky.social

The FCC doesn’t get to decide whether the news coverage of those in power is acceptable.

It has neither the legal authority nor the constitutional right to pursue broadcasters for their journalism.

These threats sound ominous, but they’re empty.

Politico @politico.com · 13d

Trump again threatens ABC's broadcast license, this time over Epstein questions.

The threat came after questions about whether he would order the files released without congressional consent.

Trump again threatens ABC's broadcast license, this time over Epstein questions

Trump’s threat came after questions about whether he would order the files released without congressional consent, as well as those related to the 2018 assassination of a Washington Post columnist.

politi.co

November 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Michael J. Stern

@michaeljstern.bsky.social

Trump wants the U.S. government to take away the license of a news station because he does not like the "attitude" of a reporter.

This isn't American democracy, it's authoritarianism.

November 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Joyce White Vance

@joycewhitevance.bsky.social

Today, the Alabama Educational Television Commission holds a public meeting to discuss severing ties with PBS. But, no public comment will be allowed. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Alabama public TV viewers fight to save PBS access after Trump cuts threaten partnership

Commission to discuss partnership at public meeting, while longtime members warn they'll withdraw support if PBS programming ends.

www.yahoo.com

November 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM

Reposted by open-spectrum

The Atlantic

@theatlantic.com

Brendan Carr, the head of the FCC, has “a knack for pulling the strings of power in ways that escape public scrutiny,” Gilad Edelman reports. Carr's goal isn’t to tell networks what to air and whom to fire—it’s to get to the point where he doesn’t have to. theatln.tc/khgmAqeL

November 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

US: "Donald Trump Calls For Late-Night Host Seth Meyers To Be Fired, And This Time, FCC Chairman Reposts POTUS' Demand" - deadline.com/2025/11/dona...

Donald Trump Calls For Late-Night Host Seth Meyers To Be Fired, And This Time, FCC Chairman Reposts POTUS’ Demand

Donald Trump lashed out at Seth Meyers, as he has done before, while calling on the NBC late-night host to be fired.

deadline.com

November 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

UK: "Disgraced former Prime Minister Liz Truss has sunk even lower, as she cheered on Donald Trump’s attacks on the BBC and called for the President to destroy the corporation" - leftfootforward.org/2025/11/liz-...

Liz Truss slammed for suggesting Trump should destroy the BBC

'There's patriotism for you.'

leftfootforward.org

November 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM

Reposted by open-spectrum

Steve Herman

@newsguy.bsky.social

The assets of Radio Free Asia on the auction block: rasmus.com/auctions/galIdtync...

International Television and Radio Network Broadcast Production Editing Newsroom and Corporate Headquarters Independent Shipping Available

rasmus.com

November 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

US: "In November 2025, a bipartisan coalition of 7 former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairs and commissioners, including 5 Republicans, and senior staff filed a formal petition calling on the FCC to rescind its news distortion policy" - protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-new...

The FCC's News Distortion Policy should be rescinded

A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners call for repeal of the News Distortion Policy, which chills broadcaster speech

protectdemocracy.org

November 15, 2025 at 1:57 AM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

China: "The government’s strategic plan for global communications infrastructure includes the Guowang network targeting as many as 13,000 satellites & the municipally supported Qianfan, also known as '1000 Sails' which aims for around 15,000 satellites" - www.connectivity.technology/2025/11/chin...

China’s Growing Constellations, Ambitions and the Future of Satellite Broadband

China is increasingly asserting its presence in the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband arena, with two major constellation programmes...

www.connectivity.technology

November 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"China has unveiled plans for a nationwide missile defence network... the system can track up to 1,000 incoming missiles simultaneously, drawing data from satellites, ground-based and over‑the‑horizon radar" - asiatimes.com/2025/11/chin...

China unveils radar shield as Trump drives Golden Dome - Asia Times

China has unveiled plans for a nationwide missile defence network, responding swiftly after Donald Trump vowed to build the “Golden Dome,

asiatimes.com

November 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM

open-spectrum

@open-spectrum.bsky.social

"The shock departure of both the BBC’s director-general & its CEO of news on Sunday evening handed the US President a huge victory... is the BBC strong enough to avoid giving Trump a veto over the next director-general?" - inews.co.uk/news/world/t...