Here is a prediction he got way wrong, but you can't blame him. The improvements in optical fibers beginning around 1970 were astounding:
"Any number of simultaneous conversations between earth and moon can be handled by modulated laser beams, which are easy to manipulate in space. On earth, however, laser beams will have to be led through plastic pipes, to avoid material and atmospheric interference. Engineers will still be playing with that problem in 2014." R&D into optical fibers continues. In that sense engineers are still "playing around" with the problem. - Jed
