Gear

FCC Agrees with Google: The Airwaves Will Be Open

The FCC amendments now specify that there can be no restrictions on the devices and services allowed on the network, but stop short of granting Google's third stipulation: Open services: Third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms Which would mean that anyone could licence bandwidth. Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president at AT&T, said to Reuters: If Google is serious about introducing a competing business model into the wireless industry, [this]compromise plan allows them to bid in the auction, win the spectrum, and then implement every one of the conditions they seek.

Googlephone-2The FCC has revised the rules for the forthcoming auction of the 700Mhz spectrum, which will be freed up by the big analog TV switch-off. Last month Google pledged $4.6 billion to the auction if the FCC would amend the rules applying to "C Block", a part of the spectrum set aside for smaller companies to use.

Google wants to keep these airwaves open, so none of the winning bidders can lock them up with proprietary services. The FCC amendments now specify that there can be no restrictions on the devices and services allowed on the network, but stop short of granting Google's third stipulation:

Open services: Third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms

Which would mean that anyone could licence bandwidth. Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president at AT&T, said to Reuters:

If Google is serious about introducing a competing business model into the wireless industry, [this]compromise plan allows them to bid in the auction, win the spectrum, and then implement every one of the conditions they seek.

That's pretty exciting news. It's possible that Google could just buy the lot, partner with a network provider and build a free, ad-supported network. And as the 700Mhz signals goes through walls (just like TV), you can forget municipal WiFi and WiMax, and even your cellphone. A free, open and ubiquitous network? Yes please, Google

FCC sets airwaves sale rule [Reuters]