700mhz

I've been following the 700MHz spectrum auction for almost a year now, mostly because the potential is huge for the wireless industry to do something amazing with this frequency. It was uplifting to see Google get involved with their petition for openness, and then it was equally depressing when Verizon sued the FCC for taking Google to heart. Now it it is finally over...

We don't know who won yet and I am pretty eager to find out who, but it looks like the FCC have achieved their basest goal of hauling in the cash! I'm really hoping it was Google (good) and not Verizon (evil) who won. Whoever wins, I hope they use this tasty spectrum to enable us wireless consumers to consume lots, quickly, and for not very much money, because I'm pretty sure KoodoMobile isn't going to do it for me.

Read the Engadget and TechCrunch reports for some of the dirty deets.

Update: Verizon won, shoot. 

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

This is a topic near and dear to our hearts here at EQO.  As you may well know, the FCC is auctioning off a chunk of the 700MHz spectrum previously used for analog TV channels 53-59 (those channels will now be digital).  The FCC is doing this so they can make billions of dollars and their interest, as far as I can tell, is purely financial.  The 700MHz spectrum is ideal for wireless in that signals travel further and penetrate obstructions better.  The owner of this spectrum could set up low cost, high service availability, and fast wireless network that could change the face of the American wireless industry, which is generally considered a laughing stock compared to the rest of the modern wireless world.

The front runners to win this tasty bit of frequency are Verizon (evil) and Google (awesome).  Verizon would likely use the spectrum to buoy their own position in the USA by offering services only slightly better than those of their competitors with little to no improvement in usability or feature innovation.  On the other hand, Google is rumored to be planning a free (ad funded) and open wireless network that would turn the wireless industry on its head.

I'm surprised at how little press this is getting considering the magnitude of the implications, but then maybe I'm just a dreamer.  In any case, the auction begins and, sadly, we can't follow it, but Engadget will tell you all you need to know.  We should know the results in a couple of months and favorite to win, based on no personal bias whatsoever, is Google.

Long live Googletel!

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Maybe it's because our dollar is doing so well or because hockey is a way better sport than baseball, but it seems that Canada really gets wireless. This Engadget Report inspired my bold and ridiculous statement, that and I like making fun of the American dollar and I hate baseball. Canada is planning to open up a good 40MHz chunk of spectrum to newcomers for the purposes of wireless competition and innovation. Compare this with the FCC's plan to auction off spectrum for many billions of dollars, their inability to adopt Google's pleas for openness, and their concessions to monopolistic carriers like Verizon. Props to the Canadian government on this one; here's hoping this will propel the mobile industry in the Great White North, eh.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

I love Engadget for injecting wonderful quotes like that into their mobile news. Indeed, carrier-hate is surely warranted in this case, since the FCC is now fast tracking amendments to their open-access policy for the upcoming 700MHz auction, all thanks to the lawyers on retainer to Verizon Wireless. It had looked like the FCC was going to enforce open-access rules for the tasty 700MHz spectrum, giving innovative companies like Apple and Google a shot at next generation wireless networks and services. However, it seems that Verizon's lawsuit, claiming that open-access is unconstitutional, has the spineless FCC looking to protect its auction windfall (estimated at $15billion). Instead of fighting for what is right, the FCC will likely cave. Does this mean that the Carterphone ruling is unconstitutional? Of course not, it means that innovation will be stifled because Verizon is an evil moneybags corporation.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

If you haven't been following the 700Mhz auction, you can catch up here. Today, Verizon has sued the FCC for adopting Google's petition for open access rules to the spectrum on auction. Basically, Google was trying to prevent carriers such as Verizon from operating closed and/or restricted networks, which they already do now with their cellular network. Verizon is now suing to ensure that if they do win the spectrum they can setup a closed and restricted network. Even if they lose, by winning this suit Verizon could ensure that Google can't release a free and open network that would cut into Verizon's revenues. It boils down to this, Verizon is an evil corporation and their actions are geared towards protecting their revenue stream, not towards the greater consumer good.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

As you may well know, the FCC is going to be auctioning off the 700MHz spectrum come January 2009. If you have not heard of this, you should really look into it seeing as it is one of the most important technology/communications issues of our era. Wired has a great FAQ on the subject.

This week, Business Week speculated that Apple is looking to get into the mix with other prospective bidders Google and AT&T. Why is this auction so significant? Ownership of the 700MHz spectrum would allow Google or Apple to have their own wireless network and compete directly with the incumbent carriers. This would blow the American wireless industry wide open and, I think, open the door for amazing innovation in the wireless space. I find it funny that Apple would be competing against their exclusive iPhone parter in AT&T, which really lends credibility to Jeff's theory that Apple bent AT&T right over.

Now when it comes to who I want to win the auction I was really pulling for Google to trump AT&T, but that was before I heard that Apple might also bid. Now I am torn between the two tech giants, how about you?

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Yesterday TechCrunch reported that the FCC had released the auction rules for the 700MHz spectrum in their post FCC Fails To Mark Its Place in History. Indeed, GigaOm reckons that Google was awarded half a win in their battle to ensure Open Devices, Open Applications, Open Services, and Open Networks for this prized frequency band. What does it all mean? Well, the ruling in favor of only Open Devices and Open Applications is a step in the right direction for American Wireless and should ensure that the big carriers can't sell locked devices as they do on their current networks. Check out the CTIA's response to what openness there will be, bloody fascists. More importantly, what TechCrunch is alluding to with the title of their post is that the FCC missed their chance to turn the American wireless industry upside down. In not mandating Open Services and Open Networks, the FCC is basically blocking any plans Google may or may not have had for GoogleTel. Personally, I was really hoping the FCC would have the guts not to take the middle road here. A new national carrier in the form of GoogleTel would be a joy to see and could only benefit the consumer.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Esteemed EQO founder and Chief Architect Jeff LaPorte introduced me to the 700MHz debate earlier this year and I've been following it with interest ever since. To get caught up on the issues, check out this great post from Om Malik: 700MHz Explained in 10 Steps. What interested me was the knowledge that some of my favorite channels in the 52-59 range like The Score, The Food Network (Iron Chef!), and Comedy Central would be booted off the spectrum come 2009. Thank goodness for my new digital box, crisis averted...

Today I came across a flurry of notable news on the subject:

1. Engadget Mobile reports AT&T endorses open access

2. MobileCrunch reports on Google's open access plans

3. MobileCrunch reports CTIA's response to Google's open access plans

Guess where CTIA gets their money? If you guessed the close minded, innovative-less carriers of America then you guessed right. I am completely biased when it comes to the 700MHz spectrum.  I'm all for open access and anyone who truly supports it.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist