I have often described my work in the 802.11 working group as the best job I ever had, even though it was a part-time volunteer position that came without pay. As a regular attendee, I had a ringside seat for much of the 802.11n standardization effort, culminating in a vote in the summer of 2009 to approve the task group’s final draft. Procedurally, it was a vote like many others I attended, but there was an electricity in the room. After years of exertions to meet the yearning of users for more speed, we were delivering a long-awaited standard. Even though the outcome of that final vote was not in doubt, I went to that meeting in part so that I could say “I was there.” As it turns out, I do have an inte....