Being chairman of the Federal Communications Commission under President Ronald Reagan was always challenging – much like standing in front of a tennis ball machine every day. Perks? See above. But we Reaganites had a mandate: get rid of smothering regulations, rely on marketplace forces, get government out of content control and open markets to...

Yet another approach is to combine satellite and ground-based wireless services together. This hybrid type of offering, which the FCC is currently contemplating for approval, would jumpstart next-generation connectivity for mission-critical industries by pooling existing resources and deploying them in ways that are far more advanced and forward-thinking than what currently exists. Rather than just focusing on consumer connectivity, these types of licensed services could power truly revolutionary technologies, bringing innovation to traditional industries, which would redound to average consumers. And this is more than theoretical: There are companies ready to begin deployment if and when the FCC approves their applications.