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  • FCC 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction meets $4.6 billion "C" block reserve price - Open Access baby!

    With previous anonymous bids (the FCC is keeping bids secret until end of auction) on the coveted 700Mhz “C” block hovering below the $4.6 billion reserve price required to ensure “ open access ” rules are enacted, we were starting to get a little nervous about giants like AT&T or Verizon Wireless snatching up the spectrum and keeping it locked down. Well, it looks like our fears have been assuaged with the announcement that the FCC has received a bid of $4.7 billion for the “C” block of the 700Mhz spectrum. The current bid has the potential to see it through to the end of the auction, netting the anonymous bidder (Google, perhaps?) a sweet slice of the 700Mhz pie. Seeing as how the next round of bidding (Round 18) will open with a minimum bid of $5.3 billion, it’s not hard to imagine that the $4.7 billion bid will take the trophy - we’re thinking that could very well be Google. Google previously pledged to put up a bid to meet the $4.6 billion reserve price on the “C” block, which triggered the “open access” rules in effect. The “rules” will give the company’s Android platform a suitable playground in which to play. But, seeing as how all bidding is anonymous, we can’t verify that Google is responsible for this highest-bid. In either case, open access is here, baby! Bring on the 700Mhz “C” block! [Via: RCRNews ] Hilarious pic from Engadget Mobile ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:FCC releases details, rules for upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction - $10 billion reserve priceAT&T, Frontline petition FCC over upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction700Mhz FCC auction delayed, new auction rules publishedUpcoming FCC 700Mhz auction could generate less money than expected; Chairman Martin says auction will proceedFCC to change rules for upcoming 700Mhz frequency [...]

  • FCC to change rules for upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction

    All the whining, suing , and petitioning from the likes of Verizon Wireless , AT&T and Frontline have prompted FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to take action . The recently approved open-access rules (for which we applauded the FCC) are now the target of revision by Martin. As you’ll remember, the 22Mhz block of the 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction , referred to as the C-block , is currently setup to require that the winning carrier allow any device and any software to use the network. Chairman Martin failed to propose revisions to the open-access rules this past week and is now aggressively pushing to “clarify” the rules - through a “declaratory ruling.” It looks like Martin is trying to change the open-access guidelines in response to Verizon Wireless’s recent lawsuit against the FCC, and is likely also the result of Verizon Wireless lobbying the FCC. Industry insiders fear that Martin is trying make changes to the rules outside the scope of the public-comment system. We’ll see how this one plays out. It seems that the FCC is moving towards appeasing Verizon Wireless, but public outcry could keep that from happening. So, get on your soapboxes and start spreading the “open-access” word. [Via: RCR News ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:AT&T, Frontline petition FCC over upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auctionFCC releases details, rules for upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction - $10 billion reserve priceGoogle is still a player in FCC's 700Mhz spectrum auctionFCC approves open-access rules for upcoming 700Mhz wireless spectrum auctionVerizon Wireless sues to get FCC rules of 700Mhz auction removed

  • AT&T, Frontline petition FCC over upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction

    Following in Verizon Wireless’s footsteps , AT&T and Frontline (and a handful of smaller companies) are appealing the FCC’s auction rules for the upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction in January. The petition is an appeal to the FCC to remove some stipulations to the auction that is seen as “an extreme penalty,” according to AT&T’s petition. Among the rules that are causing some discontent is the requirement that any company wishing to bid on any part of the 700Mhz spectrum will have to reach an agreement with US public safety departments to give them access to the frequency for nationwide use. The petition also mentions that the ban of wholesale frequency reselling will hurt smaller companies whose only option to use the frequency would be to lease it from larger carriers with the bankroll to actually buy a piece of the spectrum. Large carriers would be affected as well. Wholesale frequency licensing is a good source of revenue to help recoup yearly operational costs in the billions of dollars. Then there’s the prohibitively high reserve-price on the spectrum, especially the 22Mhz block of open-access spectrum that was laid aside by FCC Chairman Martin last month. These reserve-prices basically ensure that smaller companies will be out-gunned from the get-go. Without the deep cash reserves of big-hitters Google and Apple, wireless startups will have no option but to man the sidelines and hope that the reserve price for the 22Mhz block of open-access spectrum isn’t met (which would require that particular block to be re-auctioned, sans open-access requirements). We’ll see how this one plays out. Our thinking is that the FCC isn’t going to budge on their decision. Afterall, they took a good long time to get these rules enacted in the first place. [Via: Electronista ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Alltel and MetroPCS gun for 700Mhz spectrum; Newly opened spectrum to be auctioned soonFCC Approves Auction...

  • Verizon Wireless sues to get FCC rules of 700Mhz auction removed

    And we thought AT&T was the evil carrier. As much as we like to poke at AT&T for being the darkside of wireless carriers, we have to give it to them for their innovative offerings and liberal stance on consumer interests. The leading wireless carrier was recently noted as supporting FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s successful push to get open-access rules attached to a significant slice of the 700Mhz frequency spectrum - that’s a good thing for consumers. Today, we learn that Verizon Wireless has gone the evil-empire route and filed an appeal to overturn the FCC’s “unconstitutional” regulations on the 700Mhz spectrum. The open-access regulation attached to a 22Mhz slice of the 700Mhz spectrum would give consumers the power to choose whatever device and software they want to use - a boon for consumer rights. The auction, set for this coming January, will require a minimum $4.6 billion bid on this particular piece of the spectrum - but if the reserve price is not met, the open-access stipulation would be dropped and the auction repeated. Shame on you, Verizon Wireless. Do you really think consumers are going give up their right to use whatever damn device they choose just because you think the FCC regulation “violates the U.S. Constitution, violates the Administrative Procedures Act … and is arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by the substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law.” What is this? Communist Russia? [Via: RCR News ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:FCC releases details, rules for upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction - $10 billion reserve priceFCC approves open-access rules for upcoming 700Mhz wireless spectrum auctionVerizon Wireless flip-flops - supports some "open-access" for 700Mhz spectrumGoogle is still a player in FCC's 700Mhz spectrum auctionFCC Approves Auction of 700Mhz Wireless Spectrum

  • FCC approves open-access rules for upcoming 700Mhz wireless spectrum auction

    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 [...]

  • AT&T backs FCC Chairman Martin's open access position on 700Mhz spectrum

    We might just have to re-evaluate our position on AT&T as a stuffy, old corporate wireless carrier. Just as we started to think that AT&T didn’t care about their customers’ best interests, they go and do something like this. Last Thursday, the leading US wireless carrier completely flip-flopped on their initial position on FCC Chairman Martin’s open access proposal for the new 700Mhz spectrum. AT&T VP Jim Cicconi said that the company fully supports the proposal to ban device-locking practices on the new slice of frequency spectrum. Strange, the company that brought us the iPhone completely locked to AT&T, would now go against industry protests and actually endorse the open access proposal. Maybe that Congressional sub-committee into mobile phone bundling had something to do with it? We don’t care, we just want an open 700Mhz band - preferably through Google (we’re still suspicious of AT&T controlling the new band, given how poorly they developed their current holdings). [Via: PhoneScoop ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:FCC Approves Auction of 700Mhz Wireless SpectrumGoogle: FCC may require upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction to be "open platform"Google may bid for upcoming 700Mhz frequency auction - if FCC agrees to "open access" termsApple iPhone / AT&T collusion under fire in Congress - future of network locked/bundled phones in questionAlltel and MetroPCS gun [...]
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