Debate heats up over open access spectrum rules
455533
Open access advocates say an FCC plan for new spectrum doesn't go far enough.
46059
The FCC leads the campaign to rein in 'indecency' on the airwaves. But in a world of unlimited spectrum, some think shackling the First Amendment is what's obscene. By Frank Rose from Wired magazine.
470752
Depending on who's talking, the wireless spectrum auction that starts on Jan. 24 will significantly change the mobile and wireless landscape in the U.S., or it won't have much impact at all.Some believe it will lead to creation of new nationwide wireless networks and the entry of new wireless operators. That increased competition could benefit users."This spectrum auction is the first real chance we've had to see a competitor emerge that could compete with the telephone and cable companies," said Gigi Sohn, president of the Public Knowledge consumer rights organization. Aggressive bidding is expected from several well-funded companies that aren't currently in the wireless business, such as Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Vulcan Spectrum and Google.Others, however, beg to differ. "The auction won't change anything per se," said Jack Gold, principal of J. Gold Associates, a telecommunications consulting firm. "But other pressures in the system -- market forces -- could ultimately change a lot of things." For example, Gold said he expects more competition and more open wireless networks to emerge over time, no matter who wins the auction.Besides the possibility of new competition, this auction is also receiving a lot of attention because it is likely to be the last time that large chunks of wireless spectrum will become available. Also with this auction, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has imposed rules that will, to some extent, open up wireless networks.However, a lot of confusion about the auction remains. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.What is being auctioned?The FCC is auctioning off a huge swath of wireless spectrum in the 700-MHz range. This spectrum has been used by television broadcasters, which must return the spectrum to the FCC when they switch next year from analog to digital broadcasts.In particular, the FCC is auctioning many "blocks" of spectrum. Two of those blocks, the so-called C-block and D-block, have enough capacity and geographical coverage to create nationwide wireless networks. The smaller blocks of spectrum also could receive a lot of attention from bidders. Those blocks are regional in nature, and many small telecommunications providers are expected to bid on them.How is the 700-MHz portion of spectrum different than others?The physical nature of the 700-MHz spectrum makes it attractive to users and service providers alike. Many digital cellular systems in the U.S. use radio signals in the 1,800-MHz and 1,900-MHz ranges, although some older analog systems still use spectrum in frequencies as low as 800 MHz. Because radio waves in the 700-MHz range are physically longer than higher-frequency radio waves, they travel farther and are better able to penetrate walls and other impediments.These characteristics are important for several reasons. First, the better penetration makes it feasible to use wireless services indoors. That makes these wireless services competitive with land-line broadband services such as Digital Subscriber Line and cable.A second important advantage is that, because radio waves in this portion of spectrum travel farther, it is easier to bring wireless access into rural areas that currently aren't well served by wireless providers. This greater transmission range also means that operators would need to invest less in towers and base stations and other wireless infrastructure.These advantages, combined with the nationwide coverage, explain why the available 700-MHz spectrum is often referred to in the media as "beachfront property."What technologies can be used in this portion of spectrum?Virtually any wireless technology that is currently in use can also be used in the 700-MHz range. That includes traditional and next-generation cellular service and other wireless broadband technologies such as WiMax.What potential benefits could come from this auction?Besides increased competition, the FCC decreed that the winner of the C-block must make networks that use that portion of spectrum available to any device that employs compatible technology. For example, if a carrier builds an EV-DO 3G (Evolution Data Optimized third-generation) network, any device with that technology built in will be able to access the network.This openness will increase consumer choice. Currently, cellular operators in the U.S. typically limit what devices can be used on their networks and what applications can run on those devices. Because this approach gives them so much control, the incumbent carriers fought the open network provision vigorously.Note, however, that this provision applies only to the C-block. Carriers that win any of the other blocks can continue to limit access to those networks.What other rules apply to the spectrum?The effort to open up new spectrum to all devices was led by Google and several public-interest organizations. In addition, those groups urged the FCC to require that the winning bidders make some spectrum available, on a wholesale basis, to other carriers. That was another attempt to foster more competition among wireless carriers. However, this effort failed. The FCC refused to require winning bidders to resell some of that spectrum although, as always, that could occur voluntarily.There are other limits on how the spectrum can be used. One notable mandate is that any network using the D-block must be built to specifications particular to public safety applications and that portions of the spectrum are available for those uses. Because of the emphasis on public safety, the D-block is mandated to be available to 99.3% of the U.S. population by 2019.There are limits on the other blocks, too. For instance, there are use-or-lose provisions that require wireless networks to be built out within a certain time frame or the license will be lost. This is an attempt to make sure that large companies don't buy spectrum simply to block other companies from acquiring it.Who is bidding?The auction has attracted some predictable bidders, some surprise bidders and many smaller bidders. More than 260 applications to participate in the bidding process were initially submitted to the FCC. The predictable companies included incumbent telecommunications operators such as Verizon Communications and AT&amp;T.Then, there are some well-funded bidders with unknown motives, such as petroleum giant Chevron and Vulcan Spectrum. Also in the mix are some cable operators.Besides the big players, many local and regional wireless carriers have applied to participate in the auction and are likely to bid on the regional chunks of spectrum. A local telephone company, for instance, could use such spectrum to provide wireless broadband service to its local customers using a technology like WiMax.What about Google's bid?The potential bidder that has received the most attention is Google, which has been mum about its specific plans. Most observers believe the company's interest in the auction is tied to its recently announced Linux-based Android mobile phone system.Google likely wants to use Android to sell mobile advertising. However, that won't be successful if existing wireless carriers don't allow phones based on it to be used on their networks. If Google owns the open C-block, it will be certain that phones based on its Android system can be used.Few, however, expect Google to create a whole new wireless network from scratch -- if it wins."Google will rent out the spectrum, said consultant Gold. "It would be insane on their part if they decided to put up their own network. Being landlords of the airspace, that makes sense."As a result, it is widely expected that, if Google wins the C-block, it will work with other providers. For instance, rumors have been circulating that Google will work with T-Mobile USA, which has been constrained in expanding its network by a lack of spectrum. Neither company has been talking about such specifics.How will the auction be conducted?A "mock auction" will be held on Jan. 22, and the auction will begin in earnest two days later. Many observers believe the bidding, which will be largely electronic, could last a couple of weeks.Bidding will be anonymous. That is to say, nobody will know who is bidding or how much they are bidding. The goal of this rule is to prevent collusion aimed at keeping out specific bidders."There are quite a few studies that show that, if you know who is bidding, you can engage in anticompetitive blocking behavior," said Public Knowledge's Sohn.How much will spectrum cost?Buying spectrum will require very deep pockets. In particular, the large, nationwide spectrum blocks will surely be expensive. The C-block, for instance, has a reserve, or floor, bidding price of about $4.7 billion. The total reserve price for all blocks is about $10 billion, and many believe the bidding will go much higher than that.
749198
Except for the military, dedicating spectrum to a particular user is no longer a good idea. Making a big chunk of spectrum available to all users and restricting access as needed is a far better strategy, ignoring the politics, of course, says columnist Craig J. Mathias.
392702
You buy a cell phone, load any software you want on it, then choose your carrier. This vision of expanded consumer choices in the wireless world might be a little closer today than it has ever been, especially with reports that the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is circulating an &quot;open platform&quot; proposal for the upcoming auction of the 700-MHz band.
658844
Here's a way to settle the debate over the use of the much-coveted 700 Mhz spectrum band: Why not build a single open network that supports multiple services on it, both commercial and for public safety? It can be done, but it would require some changes in thinking by the FCC and Internet operators, among others.
661489
A nationwide block of&#160;spectrum in the 700MHz band being auctioned&#160;by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission received a high bid exceeding the &quot;reserve,&quot; or minimum, price of $4.6 billion on Thursday morning.A block of eight licenses covering the 22MHz C block of spectrum being sold by the FCC received a high bid of $4.7 billion in the 17th round of the 700MHz auctions, completed early Thursday. The C block is the portion of the 700MHz band on which the FCC will require open-access rules, meaning the winning bidder must allow outside devices such as mobile handsets from other carriers and must allow users to run outside applications on the network.Some critics have complained that the&#160;open-access rules&#160;would suppress bidding on the C block, but&#160;Google has pledged to bid&#160;at least $4.6 billion on the C block. Bidding is anonymous during the 700MHz auctions, so it&#39;s impossible to tell which company has the high bid.Through the 17th bidding round, high bids on the entire 62MHz of spectrum being auctioned totalled nearly $12.8 billion. The FCC and U.S. Congress had budgeted the auctions to raise at least $10 billion, but many observers had expected the auctions would raise much more than that.One block of spectrum unlikely to reach the FCC&#39;s reserve price is the D block, a 10MHz band of spectrum that would be paired with another 10MHz assigned to public safety agencies. The FCC required that the winning bidder build a nationwide voice and data network to be shared between commercial users and public safety agencies such as police and fire departments.After 17 auction rounds, the high bid for the D block stood at $472 million, far short of the $1.33 billion reserve price set by the FCC. That bid happened in the auction&#39;s first round on Jan. 24, and there&#39;s been no higher bids since then. If the reserve price is not met, the FCC would have to re-auction the D block.Many members of the U.S. Congress pushed for a public safety network, after emergency responders couldn&#39;t communicate with each other during the 9/11 terrorists attacks and more recent disasters. Police and fire departments in neighboring cities often use different devices on different blocks of spectrum.Critics have pointed to an FCC rule for the D block saying the winning bidder would have to give up millions of dollars in a deposit if it couldn&#39;t come to an agreement on network design with the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST), which controls the public safety spectrum. Scott Cleland, founder of telecom analyst firm The Precursor Group, called that provision &quot;onerous.&quot;&quot;That is not a negotiation,&quot; said Cleland, speaking at a 700MHz forum Wednesday. &quot;Auctions are free markets, and people don&#39;t have to show up.&quot;The FCC may have to re-auction the spectrum without the reserve price and perhaps without public safety obligations, said Michael Calabrese, director of the Spectrum Policy Program at think tank the New America Foundation. The PSST could use its block of spectrum to negotiate service with the auction winner if no build-out rules are in place, he said.A PSST spokesman wasn&#39;t immediately available for comment on the bidding.
384753
Appeals court hears ongoing spat pitting amateur radio operators, who fear nascent devices will cause harmful interference, against the FCC, which views BPL as future cable or DSL rival.
566019
Blog: Government officials are writing rules to determine how to use extremely valuable wireless spectrum that will be auctioned in September to the highest bidder.
360482
Verizon Wireless has encountered strong opposition for its request that an appeals court overturn U.S. Federal Communications Commission auction rules on a portion of wireless spectrum.
543995
Some smaller ISPs want the FCC to designate an unused spectrum for nationwide wireless broadband.
749338
Consumers rejoice, Verizon fumes Good news for smartphone users. Bad news for the big name wireless carriers. FCC chairman Kevin Martin has released suggested rules for an upcoming radio-spectrum auction that would allow consumers to attach any device and any application to U.S. broadband wireless networks - without approval from the likes of AT&amp;T and Verizon Wireless.â¦
75785
Analysis: Advocacy groups lobby the FCC over potential use of the 700MHz spectrum.
743049
Open access advocates say an FCC plan for new spectrum doesn't go far enough to boost competition.
729224
InfoWorld - Plans for valuable wireless spectrum being considered by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission may not go far enough to encourage a new broadband competitor, said groups calling for open-access rules for part of the spectrum.
55045
The FCC is about to approve rules that could affect open access of wireless networks, including the portability of cell phones and applications.
618013
RESTON, Va., Sept. 14  /PRNewswire/ -- Debate over whether to regulate Internet Service Providers has raged during consideration of so-called "net neutrality" (NN) legislation now pending in Congress.