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FCC Goes Halfway On Opening 700 MHz Spectrum

Posted by kdawson on from the is-the-glass-half-open dept.

The FCC has set rules for the upcoming auction of 700-MHz spectrum and they went halfway on the four open access principles that Google and others had called for. The agency said yes to "open devices" and "open applications," thus requiring the auction winner to permit consumers to use any device or application on the network. But the FCC turned down "open services" and "open networks," so the winners will not be obligated to let others buy access at wholesale prices in order to offer network services. This vote would seem to mean that Google won't bid in the spectrum auction. Ars has a more in-depth look at the outcome.

4 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Wouldn't that be more reason to win? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Shouldn't google bid so that they can enforce the openness they want, rather than letting someone else win and keep it closed?

    1. Re:Wouldn't that be more reason to win? by jamieswith · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This has some merit, but I can think of one reason why the lack of these makes Google nervous of getting into a bidding war...

      Because not including these two levels of 'open-ness' means a higher potential value to whoever is the winner... because there's a greater degree of possible profit... you get to pick your competitors and set your prices

      It simply wouldnt be in the interests of the huge telecoms giants to bid too high if they then had to turn around and sell access for next to nothing to anyone (including google) who wanted to use it... but if they're getting total control over who provides service and at what cost... then its worth a lot more money.

      If they can charge what they want for access, suddenly you can justify bidding a lot higher

  2. Re:Abolish the FCC! by stinerman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wouldn't abolish the FCC, but I would considerably reduce their scope. The FCC is what keeps broadcasters on the proper frequency and the like. I'd let them regulate power, frequency, etc., but remove their ability to censor people. They'd also have no say in anything not owned by the public at large.

  3. Re:Abolish the FCC! by Suzuran · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Without the FCC, I can also set up a large broadcasting station that transmits many signals throughout the FM broadcast band, strategically placed over the top of any existing stations, for the purpose of promoting Scientology. All it takes is one person with a few hundred dollars to talk over the top of any station they want for a few block radius. One guy with a few hundred dollars doing this trick in the HF spectrum can ruin use of a frequency for an entire continent. Don't like it if the guy down the street decides to put a hardcore gangsta rap station over the top of your low-power talk station? TOUGH.