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Not that I don't want to bash on Comcast; there are few things I enjoy more and certainly I believe that Comcast is dead wrong on net neutrality as a general matter... however, the Ars article and the /. summary have badly botched what Comcast actually said. It's funny that no one has deemed it worthwhile to link to the letter itself. This is the Internet after all...

Rather than arguing that the FCC has no enforcement power, Comcast is making the rather more limited argument that the FCC cannot create a new rule regarding net neutrality and enforce it against Comcast (i.e. levy fines and other penalties) at the same time. This is a pretty well established principle of law, although its application in an administrative setting may not be quite as clear cut. Comcast is simply asking that the FCC either adjudicate Comcast's P2P blocking under current rules, or that the FCC pass new regulations then give Comcast an opportunity to respond to them (e.g. stop blocking P2P) before any penalties are assessed. This is one of the more reasonable arguments you're ever likely to hear out of Comcast, so all of the hyperventilation in this discussion seems slightly misplaced.

75% coverage of the "license area" (for a Nationwide license) seems daunting after four years, let alone 99.3% after ten years. I'm not sure how the FCC would actually determine compliance with that provision, but that sounds like a massive undertaking to me. Other blocks have a requirement to provide something like 35%-70% coverage of their smaller, geographic area.

How blatantly arbitrary and unfair. Why is the FCC flipping out over "fck" on the radio after this went unpunished

Do the FCC's rules apply to cable and satellite programming? In the past, the FCC has enforced the indecency and profanity prohibitions only against conventional broadcast services, not against subscription programming services such as cable and satellite. However, the prohibition against obscene programming applies to subscription programming services at all times.

You live in the wrong state. This happened to me (different companies involved) when I lived in Iowa. Their laws (and AG) make it very easy to contest slamming, you just have to fill out a web form. The burden is placed on the phone co. to prove that the transfer was made by an authorized party. My bill was fixed very quickly.

There is a list here: http://www.fcc.gov/slamming/states.html which provides links to several states' complaint forms. You can also file a complaint directly with the FCC here. YMMV based on what state you're dealing with.

You live in the wrong state. This happened to me (different companies involved) when I lived in Iowa. Their laws (and AG) make it very easy to contest slamming, you just have to fill out a web form. The burden is placed on the phone co. to prove that the transfer was made by an authorized party. My bill was fixed very quickly.

There is a list here: http://www.fcc.gov/slamming/states.html which provides links to several states' complaint forms. You can also file a complaint directly with the FCC here. YMMV based on what state you're dealing with.

If you think this issue is important, you should write some letters. Today, I wrote both my Senators, my House Rep, the FCC, and my cable company. Personally, I am appalled at this douchebaggery. Someone else said it best: selective throttling is censorship. It is therefore a violation of the First Amendment. Also keep in mind that some would-be ISPs are the same folks offering illegal wiretaps. Lastly, as consumers we *must* demand better. I live in Los Angeles, one of the most urbanized areas in the United States and, in my neighborhood, Time Warner is my only viable option for high speed internet access. It's just plain wrong. We must demand better.

Find your Senate rep here:
http://www.senate.gov/

Find your house rep here:
http://www.house.gov/

You can comment on the FCC proceedings here using proceeding numbers 07-52 and 08-7
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

I would highly encourage use of snail mail. It has greater impact when bags of mail arrive in somebody's office.

URL: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

Proceeding: 07-52

Example Brief Comment to FCC:

"AT&T's filing has suggested that broadband capacity upgrades would be "expensive and needless." It is our company's belief that this is wholly inaccurate. According to research firm Point Topic, U.S. broadband speeds have increased a mere 0.17 percent this year, to 2.971 Mbps. In comparison, the speeds in South & East Asia went up 132 percent to 3.582 Mbps, while Asia Pacific saw speeds increase 38.79 percent to 14.989 Mbps. Speeds in Western Europe gained by 6.22 percent to 5.552 Mbps."

Importantly, in managing its network, Comcast does not block any content, application, or service; discriminate among providers; or otherwise violate any aspect of the principles set forth in the [FCC's] Internet Policy Statement.

So, they don't block any content? That doesn't seem consistent with their terms of service (interesting parts bolded by me):

Comcast reserves the right to refuse to transmit or post, and to remove or block, any information or materials, in whole or in part, that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be in violation of the "Content and information restrictions" section above in this Policy, harmful to its network or customers using the Service, negatively affecting its network or customers using the Service, or otherwise inappropriate, regardless of whether this material or its dissemination is unlawful. Neither Comcast nor any of its affiliates, suppliers, or agents have any obligation to monitor transmissions or postings (including, but not limited to, e-mail, file transfer, newsgroup, and instant message transmissions as well as materials available on the Personal Web Pages and Online Storage features) made on the Service. However, Comcast and its affiliates, suppliers, and agents have the right to monitor these transmissions and postings from time to time for violations of this Policy and to disclose, block, or remove them in accordance with this Policy and the Subscriber Agreement.

So what is it comcast? Do you block content or don't you? Either they are lying to the government or they are lying to their customers. And don't get me started on the internet policy statement (pdf warning)... I'm sure comcast is all about this one:

To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to competition among network providers,application and service providers, and content providers.

The courts have held that indecent material is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned entirely. It may, however, be restricted in order to avoid its broadcast during times of the day when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience.

Of course, that's if they win the auction.

According to their budget sheet (133 page PDF warning), their proposed budgetary resources for 2008 is $433 million.

As I haven't been following the news very closely, does anyone know where this $20 billion will go?

I, like many Americans, am ghastly concerned with how my government spends money. I hope that the FCC doesn't pull an M.C. Hammer and put spinners on their pocket protectors or pass out diamond studded platinum iPods to all of its friends. Will this money be put under control of congressional spending? Will this money be put in a fund to supply the FCC with emergency regulation cash?

You're going to suddenly have over 40 times the amount of resources you normally have. Even if they went nuts and ordered yet another all marble Parthenon-dupe building in DC they couldn't burn all this cash. Please don't be stupid.

What if your Homeowners Association says you cannot have a dish on your property. Does a Homeowners Association have the legal right to enforce

They live in an apartment building that won't let them install a satellite dish, like the majority of new yorkers, so basically they are at the mercy of Time Warner cable.

The FCC may have something to say about that.

If you pay a phone bill, you've been paying for internet infrastructure for years. You've been paying for this for years.

Instead of double dipping and asking for more money to upgrade/create internet infrastructure why don't they start spending the money they already collect IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERV FUND
http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/universal_service/welcome.html
The goals of Universal Service, as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to
promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable, and
affordable rates; increase access to advanced telecommunications
services throughout the Nation; advance the availability of such
services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural,
insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to
those charged in urban areas. In addition, the 1996 Act states that all
providers of telecommunications services should contribute to Federal
universal service in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; there
should be specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State
mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service; all schools,
classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should, generally, have
access to advanced telecommunications services; and finally, that the
Federal-State Joint Board and the Commission should determine those
other principles that, consistent with the 1996 Act, are necessary to
protect the public interest.

FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERV FUND PRIVATE LINE
http://www.shore.net/support/usf.html
The Universal Connectivity Charge is 9.25% of state-to-state and
international long distance charges, and on Internet circuits. (ATM,
Frame Relay, Private Line, Internet Access and SDSL)
[NOTE: This may be the local number portability surcharge - ED]

E911 SURCHARGE
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Legislation/HF/00200/HF00279/Current.html
The surcharge shall
3 21 be collected as part of the access line service provider's
3 22 periodic billing to a subscriber. In compensation for the
3 23 costs of billing and collection, the provider may retain one
3 24 percent of the gross surcharges collected. If the
3 25 compensation is insufficient to fully recover a provider's
3 26 costs for billing and collection of the surcharge, the
3 27 deficiency shall be included in the provider's costs for
3 28 ratemaking purposes to the extent it is reasonable and just
3 29 under section 476.6. The surcharge shall be remitted to the
3 30 E911 service operating authority county auditor or the
3 31 auditor's designee of the county in which the subscriber
3 32 resides for deposit into the E911 service fund quarterly by
3 33 the provider. A provider is not liable for an uncollected
3 34 surcharge for which the provider has billed a subscriber but
3 35 not been paid. The surcharge shall appear as a single line
4 1 item on a subscriber's periodic billing entitled, "E911
4 2 emergency telephone service surcharge". The E911 service
4 3 surcharge is not subject to sales or use tax.

SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE TAX
http://www.state.ia.us/tax/educate/78511.html
IOWA SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE LOCAL OPTION TAX
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FEDERAL TAX
This should be the federal excise tax

STATE/LOCAL TAX

FEDERAL ACCESS CHARGE
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/accesschrg.html

If you pay a phone bill, you've been paying for internet infrastructure for years. You've been paying for this for years.

Instead of double dipping and asking for more money to upgrade/create internet infrastructure why don't they start spending the money they already collect IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERV FUND
http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/universal_service/welcome.html
The goals of Universal Service, as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to
promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable, and
affordable rates; increase access to advanced telecommunications
services throughout the Nation; advance the availability of such
services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural,
insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to
those charged in urban areas. In addition, the 1996 Act states that all
providers of telecommunications services should contribute to Federal
universal service in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; there
should be specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State
mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service; all schools,
classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should, generally, have
access to advanced telecommunications services; and finally, that the
Federal-State Joint Board and the Commission should determine those
other principles that, consistent with the 1996 Act, are necessary to
protect the public interest.

FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERV FUND PRIVATE LINE
http://www.shore.net/support/usf.html
The Universal Connectivity Charge is 9.25% of state-to-state and
international long distance charges, and on Internet circuits. (ATM,
Frame Relay, Private Line, Internet Access and SDSL)
[NOTE: This may be the local number portability surcharge - ED]

E911 SURCHARGE
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Legislation/HF/00200/HF00279/Current.html
The surcharge shall
3 21 be collected as part of the access line service provider's
3 22 periodic billing to a subscriber. In compensation for the
3 23 costs of billing and collection, the provider may retain one
3 24 percent of the gross surcharges collected. If the
3 25 compensation is insufficient to fully recover a provider's
3 26 costs for billing and collection of the surcharge, the
3 27 deficiency shall be included in the provider's costs for
3 28 ratemaking purposes to the extent it is reasonable and just
3 29 under section 476.6. The surcharge shall be remitted to the
3 30 E911 service operating authority county auditor or the
3 31 auditor's designee of the county in which the subscriber
3 32 resides for deposit into the E911 service fund quarterly by
3 33 the provider. A provider is not liable for an uncollected
3 34 surcharge for which the provider has billed a subscriber but
3 35 not been paid. The surcharge shall appear as a single line
4 1 item on a subscriber's periodic billing entitled, "E911
4 2 emergency telephone service surcharge". The E911 service
4 3 surcharge is not subject to sales or use tax.

SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE TAX
http://www.state.ia.us/tax/educate/78511.html
IOWA SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE LOCAL OPTION TAX
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FEDERAL TAX
This should be the federal excise tax

STATE/LOCAL TAX

FEDERAL ACCESS CHARGE
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/accesschrg.html

The NY Times blog was just useless speculation from yesterday:

https://auctionbidding.fcc.gov/auction/home/announcementDetail.htm?ann_id=402

Announcement

1/31/2008 11:00:41 AM
C Block Reserve Price Met in Round 17
At the conclusion of Round 17, the provisionally
winning bids for the C Block licenses exceeded the
aggregate reserve price of $4,637,854,000 for the
block.

Here's the link for status
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=auction_summary&id=73

Under Results click: View Auction Results (buttheads are using javascript for linking so no direct linking possible).

Please note it wants you to run some java. I clicked no and everything runs fine.

And no new bids. Watch it in REAL TIME: https://auctionbidding.fcc.gov/auction/results/results.htm

First, go here https://auctionsignon.fcc.gov/signon/index.htm Then put in Auction number 73 under public access... then click go. According to this, they are at a total of $11.5 billion now for the total... next round starts in ten minutes.

Go to this page and put "07-52" into the "Proceeding" field.

Comments are in PDF form, so turn off "View in Browser" in Acrobat.

You can see the public access auction results as the auction is conducted by visiting the FCC's Auctions Portal and choosing Auction 73 from the drop-down box under "Public Access". There are many auctions going on for different aspects of the 700MHz band, but Auction 73 is the big one that people are all talking about.

If you want to set up a wireless network, or make radio calls across the country of any type, using your own equipment, for as low a price as your imagination and skill will allow, and completely free of anything but common-sense rules of courtesy, just go study a few weeks and get your own personal radio license. You don't have to whine because MegaCorp won't provide you with a plug-n-play radio communication system that retarded monkeys could use at a price you think is low enough. Do it yourself if you don't like their rules, or price. Think of it as "open source radio." It's been around for a hundred years already.

I hope you aren't still operating with that call sign, as your license expired as of June 18, 2007. http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=578165

Here is also a more direct link: Auction 73

Dear FCC,
I don't want to pay more for my phone. Please remove the surcharge and let competition rule. Thanks.
John

I actually looked up some of the comments filed so far and it looks like the FCC needs to employ a spam filter of some sort.

Apparently the FCC is in need of purchasing some new life insurance: Submitted Comment

They also need to buy some new cell phones from Hong Kong!: Submitted Comment

Luckily, there are a few good comments such as this set of form letters (read: petition) found here: Submitted Comment

Ok, there are a few good comments there at least, I like this Rome analogy here: Submitted Comment

I actually looked up some of the comments filed so far and it looks like the FCC needs to employ a spam filter of some sort.

Apparently the FCC is in need of purchasing some new life insurance: Submitted Comment

They also need to buy some new cell phones from Hong Kong!: Submitted Comment

Luckily, there are a few good comments such as this set of form letters (read: petition) found here: Submitted Comment

Ok, there are a few good comments there at least, I like this Rome analogy here: Submitted Comment

I actually looked up some of the comments filed so far and it looks like the FCC needs to employ a spam filter of some sort.

Apparently the FCC is in need of purchasing some new life insurance: Submitted Comment

They also need to buy some new cell phones from Hong Kong!: Submitted Comment

Luckily, there are a few good comments such as this set of form letters (read: petition) found here: Submitted Comment

Ok, there are a few good comments there at least, I like this Rome analogy here: Submitted Comment

I actually looked up some of the comments filed so far and it looks like the FCC needs to employ a spam filter of some sort.

Apparently the FCC is in need of purchasing some new life insurance: Submitted Comment

They also need to buy some new cell phones from Hong Kong!: Submitted Comment

Luckily, there are a few good comments such as this set of form letters (read: petition) found here: Submitted Comment

Ok, there are a few good comments there at least, I like this Rome analogy here: Submitted Comment

Too bad we won't have analog much longer..

At least not in the US.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html

Wonder if we can sue governemnt for indicating that the converter boxes will allow you to get hdtv...

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

How do I get DTV or HDTV programming?

In order to receive over-the-air digital programming (as opposed to digital programming provided by a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service), you will need: (1) a DTV (a TV with a digital tuner) or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box and (2) a broadcast antenna (either a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears" connected to your set). In general, an antenna that provides quality reception of over-the-air analog TV broadcasting will work for digital TV broadcasting.

A listing of the U.S. TV stations that are broadcasting digital programming is available at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html. Satellite TV providers and many cable systems are currently offering digital programming. Subscribers should check with their service providers to see what digital programming is available in their area.

Wikipedia

FCC Page

1.4 W/kg is close to the FCC limit of 1.6 W/kg. The EU limit is 2.0 W/kg.

• The 50 million Americas who rely on analog OTA as a primary or backup medium are, over the next 13 months, expected to not just buy more equipment, but also to become RF experts and perform non-trivial antenna installations in order to continue watching the free television.
• The digerati can't fathom the burden this places on the rural housewife, the grandma in a retirement condo, the hispanic family living month-to-month, the apartment dwellers who can't install exterior antennas, the Wyoming rancher, and so on...

You did make one interesting point -- that some UHF stations will transition to VHF after the 2009 transition. This is true, but hardly sweeping. According to FCC DA-06-1082A2 (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf), 262 stations will switch their DTV broadcasts from UHF to VHF on Feb 17, 2009. However, the final count of 482 VHF DTV stations will still be far less than the current count of 718 VHF NTSC stations.

It's also worth nothing that few DTV broadcasters use low-band VHF (channels 2-6) because of widespread reception problems (http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0001/t.1169.html). If that spectrum is mostly avoided by DTV anyway, what'd be the harm in assigning it for continued analog broadcasts?

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations_2&id=cellular

"The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301, 302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from willfully or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C. Section 302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501-510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government."

This applies even on private property, because of the largely uncontrollable nature of signal propagation. For this same reason, it is effectively impossible for any person, entity, or government short of the federal government in the US to make any sort of rules relating to radio transmission, no matter where they try to enforce such rules.

As someone who has worked in IT at a high school, while that response is a little over the top(I think giving detention for helping me prove a theory is just wrong), the no questions asked policy probably stems from the fact that your school is legally obligated to keep you off of "BAD" websites http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.htmlChildren's Internet Protection Act. Your school is scared shitless of getting sued. The fact there was a method of getting around whatever blocking "solution" they had exposes them to a huge legal liability(A system level solution is a pretty weak one to say the least, our PIX contacted our WebSence server for every outgoing request). I think they are probably just trying to get you to never talk about it again, lest one of your parent's lawyer friends find out.

Barber says the signal seems be created by the console's embedded 2.4GHz radio, which is used to communicate with the handheld wireless controller..

Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator is subject to the conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted that may be caused by the operation of an authorized radio station, by another intentional or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, or by an incidental radiator.

Any emission, radiation or induction that endangers the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunications service operating in accordance with this Chapter.

Umm - as of ~3 years ago, all cell phone carriers operating in the US are required by the FCC to allow numbers to be ported to and from other providers. The same is true of local (landline) phone numbers as of ~10 years ago. It is not yet true of VoIP. Mind you the cell carriers don't actually have to implement it until someone asks for a port - but when they do, they must comply.

Under the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) "local number portability" (LNP) rules, so long as you remain in the same geographic area, you can switch telephone service providers and keep your existing phone number. If you are moving from one geographic area to another, however, you may not be able to take your number with you. These rules have applied for some time to wireless and most traditional, wireline telephone companies. In addition, the FCC recently extended the LNP rules to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers and determined that the rules would also apply to small wireline telephone companies that have not been granted waivers from the rules by their state public utility commissions. Therefore, subscribers remaining in the same geographic area can now switch from a wireless, wireline, or VoIP company to any other wireless, wireline, or VoIP company and still keep their existing phone numbers.

No they ALL have to

Currently there are no licenses that require Morse code. PDF of announcement.

Got my Technician just last month. My grandpa was speechless (and not beceause he replied in Morse).

You can find the contact e-mail addresses of all five FCC commissioners here.

I'd start more here.

There are six 22MHz blocks in the 700MHz band up for auction. Each bidder bids on one or more 22MHz blocks. Note that the blocks are assigned for different purposes and larger and smaller geographic areas. Block C, for example is for regional uses, and therefore there will be several license winners for that particular 22MHz block, each winner coming away with a region. Block D is a nationwide license, so one winner gets use of that 22MHz block throughout the United States. Overall, there's 1099 available licenses with varying uses, modes, and geographic areas up for auction. The fact sheet gives a little more of a breakdown.

Here are the regions.

My guess is that Google will be going after block D, which is one licensee, with nationwide geographic coverage.

I'd start more here.

There are six 22MHz blocks in the 700MHz band up for auction. Each bidder bids on one or more 22MHz blocks. Note that the blocks are assigned for different purposes and larger and smaller geographic areas. Block C, for example is for regional uses, and therefore there will be several license winners for that particular 22MHz block, each winner coming away with a region. Block D is a nationwide license, so one winner gets use of that 22MHz block throughout the United States. Overall, there's 1099 available licenses with varying uses, modes, and geographic areas up for auction. The fact sheet gives a little more of a breakdown.

Here are the regions.

My guess is that Google will be going after block D, which is one licensee, with nationwide geographic coverage.

I'd start more here.

There are six 22MHz blocks in the 700MHz band up for auction. Each bidder bids on one or more 22MHz blocks. Note that the blocks are assigned for different purposes and larger and smaller geographic areas. Block C, for example is for regional uses, and therefore there will be several license winners for that particular 22MHz block, each winner coming away with a region. Block D is a nationwide license, so one winner gets use of that 22MHz block throughout the United States. Overall, there's 1099 available licenses with varying uses, modes, and geographic areas up for auction. The fact sheet gives a little more of a breakdown.

Here are the regions.

My guess is that Google will be going after block D, which is one licensee, with nationwide geographic coverage.

Take a look at this page:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=auction_factsheet&id=73

Google is supposedly after Block C, which is 746-757 MHz and 776-787 MHz, for a total of 22Mhz.

The FCC requires that a deactivated phone be able to call 911. "Even if a carrier chooses to decline to reactivate your handset if it is not location-capable, the FCC requires that it still be capable of making 911 calls (only)." http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

(C) DEPOSIT AND USE OF AUCTION ESCROW ACCOUNTS.-- Any deposits the Commission may require for the qualification of any person to bid in a system of competitive bidding pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in an interest bearing account at a financial institution designated for purposes of this subsection by the Commission (after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury). Within 45 days following the conclusion of the competitive bidding-- (i) the deposits of successful bidders shall be paid to the Treasury; (ii) the deposits of unsuccessful bidders shall be returned to such bidders; and (iii) the interest accrued to the account shall be transferred to the Telecommunications Development Fund established pursuant to section 714 of this Act.