700Mhz

700Mhz auction: let the games begin

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

You've been hearing about it for ages now: the wireless spectrum auction to end all spectrum auctions, the battle for 700Mhz, is finally underway. As we speak, the bidders are here in Washington, DC, hoping to snag a piece of bandwidth and--in the case of Google--a little open access on the side. For live updates on the auction's status throughout the day, head over to our sister site, FierceWireless.

For more on the auction:
- head over to FierceWireless' 700Mhz site

700Mhz auction: Who's bidding?

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:59:59 -0500

This week, the FCC revealed the names of all 266 companies who submitted applications to bid in next year's 700Mhz spectrum auction. Of those 266, 96 were accepted, while 170 applications were deemed to be "incomplete"--though would-be bidders will still have a chance to complete their applications and participate in the auction. Of course, nestled among the names of regional telcos and obscure holding companies is the big G, under the name "Google Airwaves." More interesting, however, is the number of big name companies whose applications were deemed incomplete. Among them:

AT&T
Cellco Partnership (aka Verizon)
Alltel
Chevron
Qualcomm
Cox Wireless
Licenseco (aka Frontline Wireless)

Come on guys, get your acts together and hand in that homework.

For more on the FCC announcement:
- see this TechCrunch article

Verizon files suit over 700Mhz rules

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

If I didn't know any better, I might be inclined to think that Verizon Wireless is a bit of a sore loser. As you'll recall, Google wanted the upcoming 700Mhz spectrum to be auctioned off sans regulations stipulating what users can attach to the network. And the tech giant got what it wanted, at least sort of. That might have been good news for the big G but it didn't put a smile on Verizon Wireless' face. Verizon has filed an appeal with a U.S. federal appeals court, claiming that the FCC's ruling "violates the US Constitution, violates the Administrative Procedures Act, and is arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by the substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law." Yikes. Well...at least we know where Verizon stands on this contentious issue, eh?

For more on the appeal:
- view the full-text of the filing here

Google will 'probably' bid in 700Mhz auction

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Is Google really going to bid in the upcoming FCC 700Mhz spectrum auction? If you ask the company's CEO Eric Schmidt, the answer is "probably." The outspoken exec said as much during the final keynote of the Progress & Freedom Foundation's Aspen Summit last night and our sister publication FierceWireless was on the scene. "When we looked at the FCC ruling we felt we got the spirit of the ruling," Schmidt said. "We want open access. That's good for Google. And we would be delighted to see it happen."

Schmidt also indicated the company may be interested in working with other partners in the auction. "During this period we can collude," he said. However, he stopped short of elaborating on who those potential partners may be. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in developing prototype devices and is negotiating with the likes of T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless to get its devices spread across several carriers.

Schmidt also waxed on about his company's vision of taking its online advertising model to the wireless phone noting that most mobile phones today have GPS capability and integrated cameras, making them perfect devices for targeted marketing and advertising directly to consumers. "This is a huge advertising opportunity. That ad is worth money," Schmidt said.

For more on Google's probable bid:
- see this FierceWireless story