One might be criticized for even suggesting that the plaintive pleadings of Christopher Columbus to Queen Isabella to fund his exploration of a new world could be compared with the legal pursuit by the U.S. Department of Justice in the Bell System Divestiture case. Certainly, one can conclude that in each instance new vistas were opened, new controls developed, tried, discarded or used, and from each came a new era of opportunities replete with trials and tribulations to be explored, tested and resolved. In this latter situation, we need not look into the history book for what recently happened in the communication revolution. In each instance, maritime, communications or aviation and space, the beginning years had a share of adventurism and opportunity and, those that partook, profited handsomely. Those who had the courage to optimize their opportunities rose also to be leaders.
History is full of recollections of the good and the bad.
When ethical, moral and economic standards were abused and derided, regulatory controls and laws were developed in an attempt at corrective measures. The spectrum is being assaulted in the same manner as the environment is being decimated. The abberations to the grand plans so far, those involving unethical activities such as unauthorized network intrusions, piracy of software and other propriatary properties, purveyors with questionable credentials, economic tribulations and over zealous patrons, have their counterparts in history. It may seem strange that an engineer looks to history for reflections on the future. In the past not only are there visions of the future but counterpart solutions to be carefully considered.