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Google Pledging to Bid $4.6bn to Open Spectrum

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the monies-and-mouths dept.

csuftech writes "According to an article posted on vnunet, Google is pledging to bid at least $4.6bn for the FCC's upcoming auction of the 700MHz spectrum. However, Google would only be willing to pay said amount if the FCC agreed to a few conditions, namely, 'the wireless spectrum would allow consumers to download and use any software apps and content they want; allow handhelds to be used with any carrier; enable resellers to acquire wireless services at wholesale costs; and mandate that third parties such as ISPs interconnect at any point on the 700 megahertz band.' All this was disclosed in a letter [PDF] to FCC president Kevin Martin written by Google CEO Eric Schmidt."

7 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Familiar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Er, haven't I seen this somewhere before?

    1. Re:Familiar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's why we need the extra spectrum -- carrying all those dupes adds up.

  2. I'm not a Google Fanboy, but... by cromar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I do appreciate them fucking up the corporate status quo. This debacle is getting very interesting.

    1. Re:I'm not a Google Fanboy, but... by kaiser423 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      John Walls, vice president of public affairs at the CTIA, said that the pledge re-affirms his organisation's belief that the proposed deal smacks of foul play.

      "The letter highlights Google's scheme to have the auction rigged with special conditions in its favour," he told vnunet.com.

      "Nobody should be able to buy a custom-fit government regulation tailored to their business plan."

      Yea, this reminds me of the guy form "Thank You For Smoking"

      That has to be one of the most blatantly false statements that I've heard in a while. Wow. I guess this really is rocking the boat, and has a couple of carriers pretty scared.

      Kudos to google, way to not be evil!

    2. Re:I'm not a Google Fanboy, but... by Jherek+Carnelian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think there are two points here:

      1) The requirement that the highest bidder open part of their spectrum is not part of Google's business plan beyond the fact the open access is good for the net in general. That's why the claim is false.

      2) Almost all of the tariffs in telco land are custom-fit goverment regulation tailored to their business plans. That makes the claim very hypocritical.

  3. This just in... by the.nourse.god · · Score: 5, Funny

    With 2 seconds left in the auction, AT&T puts in a $4,600,000,001 bid.

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  4. RTFL by conspirator57 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It says a *minimum* of $4.6b. This is the reserve price of the spectrum. In fact there's a nice jab at the industry protectionism that brought about the reserve. Google is just saying that they're willing to ante up. Were there to be other bids, there is still ample room left in the letter for Google to bid.

    --
    "If still these truths be held to be
    Self evident."
    -Edna St. Vincent Millay