The electromagnetic spectrum is currently used for many types of analog and digital communication. Electromagnetic waves include radio, light, infrared, x rays, and gamma rays as shown below:
These waves have the following characteristic in a vacuum: C = f w In this equation, C is the velocity of light; f is the frequency; and w is the wave length. The communication capacity of an electromagnetic wave is twice its frequency, and over the electromagnetic spectrum the frequency varies by a factor of 10 raised to the 15 power. THIS MEANS THAT THE POTENTIAL CHANNEL CAPACITY OR THE POTENTIAL VOLUME OF MESSAGES VARIES BY THE SAME FACTOR OF 10 TO THE 15TH. The allocation of the spectrum between gadgets( including cordless phones, baby monitors and garage-door openers) CB radios, radio ( AM, FM and shortwave), television, cellular phone, and satellite communications is an economic/political problem controlled in the US by the FCC. As new types of communications devices are developed, turf battles occur over the use of the electromagnetic spectrum. Economists are proposing that portions of the electromagnetic spectrum be auctioned off.