Broadband for America Honorary Co-Chair Michael Powell has an op-ed in the new edition of Technology Review Magazine on regulating the wireless broadband industry and the net neutrality debate. Some highlights:

“Both sides can see that wireless networks will take a starring role in the Internet's future (see Briefing: Mobile Communications). So it is crucial to get the policy balance right.”

“For the wireless carriers, the first concern is network congestion. Spectrum is a limited resource, and networks must rely on the government to make more of it available. But that means taking some from broadcasters and government users--a long, difficult process.”

“Meanwhile, demand has reached staggering levels with the advent of open networks and app stores. Carriers are finding it more complicated to manage their networks, and they risk alienating customers through dropped calls and ineffective applications. … Wireless businesses are concerned that net neutrality rules may prematurely bar the new business models needed to address that shift.”

“The truth is that wireless does have unique challenges, but regulations can be written so as to accommodate them. Legitimate technical concerns, not screaming zealots, must guide the FCC.”

You can read the full op-ed here.