@jbtaylor on tech

Earlier this evening, the National Hurricane Center announced the Tropical Storm Alex had reached hurricane strength. Now Hurricane Alex, the storm is the first June Atlantic storm in the to reach hurricane status since 1995. Hurricane status means the storm exceeds sustained winds of more than 75 miles per hour.

Sprint has pre-positioned back up network generators and other network equipment up and down the Texas coast in the event Hurricane Alex knocks out electricity in the region.

The latest hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings are the same as when I wrote last night: as of 10:00 p.m. CT, a hurricane warning is in effect from the Baffin Bay south to Mexican border at the Rio Grande continuing south into Mexico all the way to La Cruz. Tropical storm warnings extend from Baffin Bay north to Port O'Connor in the U.S. and in Mexico from La Cruz south to Cabo Rojo.

Rainfall could be as heavy as 20 inches in the landfall area. The storm surge could reach as much as 5 feet. Landfall is expected Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning. The storm is currently a Category 1, but may strengthen to Category 2 before it makes landfall.

The U.S. Coast Guard has begun preparations in the port of Brownsville -- the port has now been closed for the duration of the storm. And shelters have been established up and down the South Texas coast. A state of emergency has already been declared by Governor Rick Perry and President Barack Obama. (As a result, FEMA has announced plans for federal aid to 24 Texas counties.)

This is a serious storm and residents are urged to take appropriate precautions.

Contrary to what most tech writers will tell you, your EVO, Droid or iPhone is not the biggest story about the wireless industry. The spectrum these devices operate is more important, yet most consumers and many tech writers miss that point.

President Obama however, understands the importance of spectrum and what his administration and the FCC can do to get more spectrum deployed so your smartphone and other advanced wireless devices can operate at faster speeds in more places.

This morning, the president signed an executive memorandum which will make available for public auction some 500 MHz of spectrum, implementing portions of the National Broadband Plan was released in March by the Federal Communications Commission. Certain aspects of the President’s directive will still require Congressional approval. Later over lunch, Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council delivered a speech which explained the president's approach on spectrum and how its effective deployment can help expand our broadband economy.

Sprint Nextel's Vonya B. McCann, senior vice president – government affairs issued the following statement:

“Sprint is pleased that President Obama has put his support behind the FCC’s National Broadband Plan recommendations concerning spectrum allocation. The President’s order will facilitate all federal agencies working cooperatively to identify spectrum availability and best manage this scarce resource. If the plan’s recommendations are implemented fully over the next ten years, they will create jobs, promote innovation, and further expand the country’s broadband economy.”