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Why Google Doesn't Need To Win the Bid To Win In January
explosivejared writes "TheStreet discusses Google's possible strategy options in the bid for the 700 mhz spectrum. The end goal of getting the government to put an open access stipulation on the spectrum, Google's end goal, is almost a given — in the author's opinion. At this point, he says, Google hardly even needs to win to 'win.' From the article: 'Rather than actually winning the auction, Google's participation is likely intended to secure what it sees as the real reward: ensuring that whoever ends up owning the spectrum allows the open access of applications and devices. Indeed, as long as this goal is met, it's hard to see why Google would want to take on the costly task of building and running its own network. But given how much is at stake when it comes to the mobile market, Google's vigilance is shrewd, even if it never planned to own the spectrum.'"
No, they buy commercially available satellite (or more often (in urban areas) airplane) photography on the open market. You can too if you are willing to cough up the cash.
... a writer at OmniNerd put together a good article on Auction 73 outlining why the FCC is auctioning the 700Mhz spectrum as well as how they're doing it in a competitive and fair fashion. He even walks a fictitious company through the auction process to detail what is involved for bidders.
When you understand your disbelief in other gods, then you will understand my disbelief in yours.
Well, last I heard the deficit was increasing at about $1m per minute, 4.6b / 1m = 4600, so at 360 minutes per day it should keep us from getting further into debt for about 12-13 days. Two weeks was actually a very good estimate, kudos to you.
Try not to take me more seriously than I take myself.