Bidders Listed by FCC in 700 MHz Spectrum Auction
Added on 2007-12-23 11:23:00
by Tanya Palta
 A list of companies which intend to bid in the 2008 auction for the rights to the 700 MHz wireless spectrum has been released by the FCC. For now 96 applications have been accepted by the FCC which also include bigwigs like AT&T, Google, Verizon Wireless, Alltel, Cox, and Frontier Wireless. Sprint and T-mobile have decided to stay out from the 2008 auction.
[Via Brighthand]
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Google officially interested in bidding in 700 MHz auction
Added on 2007-11-16 14:04:00
by Mark Brezinski
 Breaking news! Google has officially announced that they're thinking about bidding in the 700MHz auction. Though this might seem like non-news because it's so noncommittal, it's definitely a step towards what could be an interesting future. We won't lie; the hypotheticals this news raises has us mighty excited. Combined with the launch of Android and the Open Handset Alliance, it certainly looks as if Google is preparing to take on the multi-headed Goliath of traditional phone service carriers. If Google wins the auction, the resulting open-source open network stands to blow the industry wide...open. If they were to win, and if they followed this plan, it would cause carriers to re-evaluate their business models which is a good thing. We have high hopes for Google, and we can't wait to see how the auction is finally resolved.
If you want a more comprehensive look at this story, click here.
[Via Ars Technica]
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Verizon tantrum to go to court
Added on 2007-09-13 15:25:00
by Mark Brezinski
 For those of you who haven't been paying attention to the forthcoming 700MHz auction, allow us to summarize. The 700MHz spectrum was previously used by analog TV signals. These TV signals are now switching to digital, which means that bits of the said spectrum will be unused, and the FCC is auctioning these off. The FCC, following lobbying from Google and others, is keeping part of this frequency range open to all non-harmful devices and applications. Verizon has a huge problem with this, as it flies directly in the face of their business model of nickel-and-diming consumers for network features. So, they've decided to sue the FCC.
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Verizon Wireless changes tune on open networks (kinda)
Added on 2007-07-26 13:16:00
by Alfredo Padilla
 So here's the story, the 700 mHz spectrum is up for bids next year. Google wants it to be opened up for everyone to use. The FCC has agreed to at least a little openness in the new Spectrum, but not as much as Google wants. CTIA and other wireless companies cried like little children. Google said they might bid if the spectrum is opened up. Wireless companies scared pantless support the FCC's "compromise".
Basically Verizon Wireless came out today and said that they will that at least part of the 700 Mhz spectrum will be opened up at least a little. This is far short of Google's wish for a completely open network that could carry their services, as well as others like Skype. Of course Verizon Wireless realizes that if Google gets their way their business model of controlling everything that happens on the network is at risk, so their willing to set aside a part of spectrum to be "open" while they can purchase the remainder and continue in their ways.
Until the money hits the table this is all posturing, it will be interesting to see what happens.
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FCC boss backs open access in spectrum auction
Added on 2007-07-11 10:32:00
by Randall Bennett
Sounds like FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is open to the idea of open access on the 700 MHz band of the wireless spectrum. The 700 MHz spectrum is the holy grail of wireless, because of its ability to travel longer distances and penetrate thick walls. Currently, the 700MHz spectrum is used by TV signals, and it'll be available to cell-phone and wireless companies after TV's forced move to digital broadcasting happens next year.
If the provision were to be adopted, open access would force whomever owns the 700 MHz band to allow any device or software application to operate on that band, effectively forcing a carrier to operate primarily on an unlocked device principle. Members of CTIA (like Verizon and AT&T) feel like it's a forced regulation, but never mention that it would help consumers.
We feel like the FCC chairman is right in forcing them to allow any device to use the spectrum. We'd love to use the newest iteration of the Chocolate, the Sidekick or any other device on whichever network we feel is best, although of course T-Mobile and Verizon love the fact that we can only use their network by using "approved" phones. We'll see where it goes, but we feel like lobbying efforts might get in the way of these open-access provisions.
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