# What happened to Wireless Cable T.V.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126 "2006-01-09T07:37:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/1 "2006-01-09T07:37:39Z")
During the '70’s in Southern California, Before “wired cable” and Satellite Television, there were two competing Wireless Cable Companies. ON T.V. & SELECT T.V… The transmitters for these stations were located on Mount Wilson. At some point and for some reason, (FCC?) this service was discontinued and never offerred again. What Happened? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/2 "2006-01-09T14:21:48Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > During the '70’s in Southern California, Before “wired cable” and Satellite Television, there were two competing Wireless Cable Companies. ON T.V. & SELECT T.V… The transmitters for these stations were located on Mount Wilson. At some point and for some reason, (FCC?) this service was discontinued and never offerred again. What Happened? **WAG:** Sattelite service replaced it as a more viable option\> ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/3 "2006-01-09T14:33:03Z")
Too many people were confused by the phrase “wireless cable”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/4 "2006-01-09T15:05:34Z")
FWIW, I recall when I would listen to Rush Limbaugh for kicks during my commute to college in the early 1990s, there would be lots and lots of ads seeking investors for wireless cable, talking about a deployment of the technology in Texas, how it would soon take over the world, etc. So, the idea seemed to finally run aground sometime after then, which was around 1993 or 1994. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/5 "2006-01-09T17:57:01Z")
Don’t know about those two operators specifically, but wireless cable (most commonly called “wireless broadband” now that everything is going IP and voice, video and data info is being “converged” over single physical networks) is making a comeback - in some limited circumstances - see below. I suspect those previous wireless operators might have run out of bandwidth and could no longer compete with the hard-line cable operators or the then-emerging digital satellite services. Where hard-line cable operators are looking to implement wireless now is in new subdivisions at the end of the reach of the existing wired system, which for various reasons, usually return path. cannot be extended further. Motorola is offering a wireless broadband solution now called [Canopy](http://motorola.canopywireless.com/) to reach these areas. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/6 "2006-01-09T18:01:27Z")
The wireless cable service in our area enjoyed a brief boom in the early 90s when it carried a ballgame or boxing match on PPV that the traditional provider was not offering. Soon, people began switching to the wireless service and you could tell who did – a wireless cable antenna was placed on top of their house – it must’ve been 15 feet tall. I imagine 19" satellite dishes are simply an attractive alternative. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/7 "2006-01-09T18:03:59Z")
This FAQ may provide some ideas for finding information more specific to the two companies you are asking about. [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/wireless-cable/](http://www.faqs.org/faqs/wireless-cable/) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/8 "2006-01-09T18:10:07Z")
Ugh. Sorry 'bout the multiple posts. Try these guys: The [Wireless Communications Association International](http://www.wcai.com/) for info on the current state of the industry. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-wireless-cable-t-v/339126/9 "2006-01-09T21:03:30Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Motorola is offering a wireless broadband solution now called [Canopy](http://motorola.canopywireless.com/) to reach these areas. Wireless broadband _solution_? Is [EVERYTHING related to technology now called a “solution”?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6881040&postcount=28) Anyhow, back on track. From [WCA International](http://www.wcai.com/wireless_cable.htm): > [@](#): > > In October 1996, the FCC cleared the way for wireless cable operators to use their spectrum for high-speed digital data applications, including Internet access. The equipment currently available for providing access to the Internet downloads data at a rate up to 27 Mbps, using a telephony return path. The Wireless Cable Association International, along with over 100 companies, petitioned the FCC in March 1997 to grant the industry the right to use MMDS spectrum for two-way access. Two way authorization will effectively enable voice, video, and data over wireless cable. Following are some of the cities that have systems offering high-speed access to the Internet over wireless cable, including: Washington, DC; Las Vegas, NV; Lakeland, FL; Colorado Springs, CO; Santa Rosa, CA; and Nashua, NH. It seems to have stalled in the mid-1990s - I can’t find many references to the industry after that time. Googling for “wireless cable” gets far mroe links to sites about routers than about wireless cable itself. Not much for the keyword “MMDS” either. Back to your regular ignorance fighting solution …