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The hottest piece of wireless spectrum real estate is up for auction - and it has the potential to transform the US wireless market. With the 700Mhz frequency’s unequalled ability to penetrate buildings and the possibility of a truly next-gen, high-speed wireless network in the US, it’s not surprising that everyone from Google to Verizon eyeing this prime slice of the frequency pie. Now the FCC has finalized the rules for the upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction. The 700Mhz spectrum will be divied up into five blocks (A-E) and will command a reserve price of $10 billion for all licenses combined. Of these blocks, the most sought-after is the C block - the piece of the spectrum that will be required to allow the open-access provisions recently set forth by the FCC. The C block will be sliced up into 12 licenses which will be bundled into three packages - one package will cover all 50 US states, the second will cover US Pacific territories, and the third will cover Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The entirety of the C block will have a reserve auction price of $4.6 billion. If you’ll remember, Google pledged a $4.6 billion bid for this particular portion of the 700Mhz spectrum if the FCC approved Google’s four-part open-access proposal . While the FCC didn’t pass all four-parts of the plan, Google may still be in the running for the spectrum - which is considered to be even more valuable due to the less restrictive (or less open, depending on how you look at it) access rules. If the reserve price is not met for the C block frequencies, the FCC will re-auction it without the open-access requirements. That would be bad for just about all of the US. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for a successful auction of the C block on January 13, 2008. [Via: ARS Technica ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Verizon Wireless flip-flops - supports some "open-access" for 700Mhz spectrumGoogle may bid for upcoming 700Mhz frequency...

They’ve done it! The FCC has passed a proposal, pushed by FCC Chairman Keven Martin , that lays down the ground rules for the upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction. The ruling would require that the winner, or winners, of the auction provide roughly one-third of the spectrum for access by any phone and any software. Said the Chairman,”I am committed to ensuring that the fruits of wireless innovation swiftly pass into the hands of consumers.” Unfortunately, the proposals set forth by Google were not passed. Google had previously pledged to bid for the spectrum if the FCC passed rules to require licensees to sell network access at wholesale rates. So, it looks like Google might stay out of the ring on this one. The Commission also passed a rule that would require a part of the spectrum to be set aside a small slice of the 700Mhz band for public safety use. The rule would give first responders the communications network they need for fast and organized response to disasters. And, it looks like Nokia is joining Verizon Wireless in support of the FCC’s new open-access rules. Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said “Nokia believes that the Commission’s rules are an important step towards meeting consumer demand and driving further innovation as mobility and the Internet converge. We commend the FCC and Chairman Martin for taking the initiative to promote even greater competition and innovation in the U.S. wireless industry” [Via: Yahoo ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:FCC Approves Auction of 700Mhz Wireless SpectrumGoogle may bid for upcoming 700Mhz frequency auction - if FCC agrees to "open access" termsVerizon Wireless flip-flops - supports some "open-access" for 700Mhz spectrumGoogle: FCC may require upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction to be "open platform"Alltel and MetroPCS gun for 700Mhz spectrum; Newly opened spectrum to [...]

USA Today is reporting that Kevin Martin, FCC Chairman, will be proposing that hte upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction would leave consumers with choice. The requirement for the 700Mhz frequency spectrum to be an “open platform” means that “You can use any wireless device and download any mobile broadband application, with no restrictions.” Martin cites concerns “that we are seeing some innovations being rolled out more slowly here than we are in other parts of the world,” as a driving force behind the push to keep the new spectrum open to consumers. Google has chimed in with their thoughts on the hot, new 700Mhz band (which is being freed up as TV broadcasters abandon the 700Mhz band in favor of all digital transmissions). Although Google believes they stand little chance of any success in winning any part of the 700Mhz band, they want the winner of the auction to abide by a few “open platform” standard. The winner should keep the spectrum open to applications - allowing any service or software to download content; open to devices - any handheld device should be allowed to access any wireless network; open to services - third-party resellers should be allowed to acquire wireless services from any 700Mhz licensee; and open to networks - allowing third-party ISPs to work with the new spectrum. We’re totally with Google on this one. With the threat of closed networks imposing their will on consumers, we live in danger of losing choice and market competition (which would drive up cost). Keeping the 700Mhz spectrum open would also spur development and rolling-out of new services that are sorely missing from the US wireless market. [Via: MocoNews ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Alltel and MetroPCS gun for 700Mhz spectrum; Newly opened spectrum to be auctioned soonFCC Approves Auction of 700Mhz Wireless SpectrumAT&T COO calls Apple iPhone Revolutionary - AgainSony Ericsson S500 Prototype up for Auction!Google Phone...