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700 MHz Auction Begins Tomorrow

necro81 writes "On Thursday, after much speculation and wrangling, the FCC will begin auctioning licenses to the coveted 700 MHz band that will be vacated by analog TV in 2009. The NY Times has a good summary of the players (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Google, et al.), how the auction will work, how Google has already scored an open networks victory, and what it could all mean for consumers. The auction will go on for several months, but you can keep tabs on the bids at this FCC site."

6 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Spasebo. by Stanistani · · Score: 4, Funny

    I plan to buy the frequency band myself, and just endlessly broadcast a black-and-white image of myself, accompanied by Russian martial music.

  2. American Gladiators by Itninja · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's how this bandwidth right should be determined. None of this auction crap. Just let the corporations and the FCC pick their most athletic (least nerdy?) employees, and pit them against each other on the Eliminator(tm). Of course, the FCC 'gladiators' would need catchy pseudonyms like "Mega Hurts" or "The Regulator". The first corporation to actually finish the course without crying your throwing up, wins.

    --
    I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
  3. Re:Big businesses win, we lose! by phobos13013 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ask the Ramones

    "We Want The Airwaves"

    9 to 5 and 5 to 9
    Ain't gonna take it
    It's our time
    We want the world
    and we want it know
    We're gonna take it anyhow

    We want the airwaves
    We want the airwaves
    We want the airwaves, baby
    If rock is gonna stay alive

    Oh yeah-well all right
    Let's rock-tonite
    All night

    Where's your guts
    And will to survive
    And don't you wanna
    Keep rock n' roll music alive
    Mr. Programmer
    I got my hammer
    and I'm gonna
    Smash my
    Smash my
    Radio

    We want the airwaves
    We want the airwaves
    We want the airwaves, baby
    If rock is gonna stay alive

    --
    ...and it should be known by now
  4. My wife's anniversary is coming up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I was going to get her a gold band with a few sub-carat diamonds , but now I'm thinkin' "ya know... what woman doesn't want a 700Mhz band?"
    And because I REALLY love her, I'm thinking of upgrading to maybe the 701 or even 702 Mhz band... yeah yeah, it'll be a couple months salary, but what the hell...she's worth it.

  5. I'll be the winner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got auctionsniper all ready to go....

  6. Re:Auction 73 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Watched a play recently... it was a broadway setup about the FCC selling out their old PC's called "The Merry Story of FCC and their Old PC's"

    Two friends walk in:
    Friend 1: Who is auctioning out their PC's again?
    Friend 2: The FCC
    Friend 1: Didn't knew the FCC were having a executive auction of their PC's ...
    Friend 2: Yeah, but they're only crappy 700 Mhz:s ...
    Friend 1: Aah, too bad...
    Friend 2: But i've heard they come with wireless broadband..
    Friend 1: Sweet.. then maybe i'll go check it out..
    Friend 2: Buy me one 2..

    And then it just happened...

    Fine. /Regards (the unregistered) Achtila