Comments on: Frontline to Verizon: Let’s Rumble! http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:33:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Peter Glaskowsky http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-482355 Peter Glaskowsky Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:51:35 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-482355 <p>I don't think FCC chair Kevin Martin is really "enamored" of Frontline. What he's said about it sounds more like lip service to me. Hard to be sure, of course.</p> <p>I covered the Reed Hundt speech at the Hot Chips conference at Stanford last week for my blog on CNET. It's also hard to tell what Hundt is really thinking-- is he really committed to open access, or is it just a way to oppose Verizon and AT&T (companies he seems to genuinely dislike), or is he just trying to make some money with Frontline?</p> <p>http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13512_1-9763664-23.html</p> <p>. png</p> I don’t think FCC chair Kevin Martin is really “enamored” of Frontline. What he’s said about it sounds more like lip service to me. Hard to be sure, of course.

I covered the Reed Hundt speech at the Hot Chips conference at Stanford last week for my blog on CNET. It’s also hard to tell what Hundt is really thinking– is he really committed to open access, or is it just a way to oppose Verizon and AT&T (companies he seems to genuinely dislike), or is he just trying to make some money with Frontline?

(link)

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]]> By: GigaOM FCC Chairmen battle on the wireless Frontline « http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-332912 GigaOM FCC Chairmen battle on the wireless Frontline « Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:49:54 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-332912 <p>[...] for championing “open” networks — even as he kicked the open-networking ideas of Frontline Wireless to the [...]</p> [...] for championing “open” networks — even as he kicked the open-networking ideas of Frontline Wireless to the [...]

]]> By: Tom Coseven http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302899 Tom Coseven Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:48:09 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302899 <p>I would love to see Frontline or something similar win. In 2003/4 I worked on a venture funded proposal for a local interoperable solution. The grant and bid process was overwhelming, and Motorola’s relationship with local purchasing managers was very incestuous. I am convinced the only practical way to get a working national Public Safety network is a private driven partnership like Frontline.</p> <p>I think it is unfortunate that Frontline didn’t just stick to solving the Public Safety problem. The open access piece is targeting a completely different problem of creating a third pipe to the home. It was probably intended to appeal to Copps, who was predictably against the private ownership of a Public Safety network. Unfortunately, it meant Frontline has had to fight two very difficult battles on two different fronts. They might have been able to get support for open Internet access and open device connectivity, but I can’t see any way they will be able to get open roaming or a wholesale requirement after the UNE-P debacle.</p> <p>You are right that support has increased, but the opposition is much more vocal and better organized (for example the group of 16). If it is not too late already, Frontline would do well to drop some of the more objectionable “business model” requirements and refine their message around Public Safety. If frontline wins, nothing stops them from adding roaming and wholesale on their own network.</p> <p>I don’t share your confidence that Frontline can compete head-to-head with AT&T, Verizon and the MSO’s. Reed Hundt has said as much in a couple of interviews. I am not sure Google is planning to be more than moral support.</p> I would love to see Frontline or something similar win. In 2003/4 I worked on a venture funded proposal for a local interoperable solution. The grant and bid process was overwhelming, and Motorola’s relationship with local purchasing managers was very incestuous. I am convinced the only practical way to get a working national Public Safety network is a private driven partnership like Frontline.

I think it is unfortunate that Frontline didn’t just stick to solving the Public Safety problem. The open access piece is targeting a completely different problem of creating a third pipe to the home. It was probably intended to appeal to Copps, who was predictably against the private ownership of a Public Safety network. Unfortunately, it meant Frontline has had to fight two very difficult battles on two different fronts. They might have been able to get support for open Internet access and open device connectivity, but I can’t see any way they will be able to get open roaming or a wholesale requirement after the UNE-P debacle.

You are right that support has increased, but the opposition is much more vocal and better organized (for example the group of 16). If it is not too late already, Frontline would do well to drop some of the more objectionable “business model” requirements and refine their message around Public Safety. If frontline wins, nothing stops them from adding roaming and wholesale on their own network.

I don’t share your confidence that Frontline can compete head-to-head with AT&T, Verizon and the MSO’s. Reed Hundt has said as much in a couple of interviews. I am not sure Google is planning to be more than moral support.

]]> By: Chris Parandian http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302843 Chris Parandian Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:33:14 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302843 <p>Paul -</p> <p>"Frontline lite" is possible (creating an E block). The problem for Frontline is all the poison pills. The wholesale provision is against the law - you cannot wholesale public safety spectrum.</p> <p>With regard to interest in the proposal, I would say it is for public-private partnerships not necessarily Frontline's scheme.</p> <p>Best, Chris</p> Paul -

“Frontline lite” is possible (creating an E block). The problem for Frontline is all the poison pills. The wholesale provision is against the law - you cannot wholesale public safety spectrum.

With regard to interest in the proposal, I would say it is for public-private partnerships not necessarily Frontline’s scheme.

Best, Chris

]]> By: Paul Kapustka http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302441 Paul Kapustka Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:41:38 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-302441 <p>Chris, I think you will find that Hill support for Frontline is growing... a source on the Senate Commerce Committe says there is "much interest" in the ideas. As for your link to Copps statement, that is a bit dated and it will be interesting to see how much Frontline's lobbying has helped (according to ex parte filings they have been just about camped out on the eighth floor of the FCC). Believe Frontline is also addressing public safety concerns of being locked in, allowing public safety with its own networks (like New York) to opt out.</p> <p>As Tom notes earlier in the comments, it will be interesting to see if the Frontline proposal survives as a whole, or if the FCC only selects parts. And with K-P and Google in their corner, I don't think the Frontline supporters will be lacking for cash to play in the bidding wars... either way, it will be interesting to watch!</p> Chris, I think you will find that Hill support for Frontline is growing… a source on the Senate Commerce Committe says there is “much interest” in the ideas. As for your link to Copps statement, that is a bit dated and it will be interesting to see how much Frontline’s lobbying has helped (according to ex parte filings they have been just about camped out on the eighth floor of the FCC). Believe Frontline is also addressing public safety concerns of being locked in, allowing public safety with its own networks (like New York) to opt out.

As Tom notes earlier in the comments, it will be interesting to see if the Frontline proposal survives as a whole, or if the FCC only selects parts. And with K-P and Google in their corner, I don’t think the Frontline supporters will be lacking for cash to play in the bidding wars… either way, it will be interesting to watch!

]]> By: Chris Parandian http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-301423 Chris Parandian Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:46:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-301423 <p>Frontline has very little support on the Hill and does not have the support of public safety. In fact, at a recent hearing in the Senate Commerce Cmte on 700 MHZ, Paul Cosgrave (NYC Department of IT)expressed his concerns with the proposal - http://www.mobilediner.com/?p=162</p> <p>Read Commissioner Copps' skepticism about the proposal as well - http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272629A3.pdf</p> <p>Frontline is Nextwave again. However, the folks who will be hurt the most this time is Public Safety - not the wireless companies.</p> Frontline has very little support on the Hill and does not have the support of public safety. In fact, at a recent hearing in the Senate Commerce Cmte on 700 MHZ, Paul Cosgrave (NYC Department of IT)expressed his concerns with the proposal - (link)

Read Commissioner Copps’ skepticism about the proposal as well - (link)

Frontline is Nextwave again. However, the folks who will be hurt the most this time is Public Safety - not the wireless companies.

]]> By: David Mackey http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-299244 David Mackey Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:53:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-299244 <p>Any new ideas in this front are welcome by me...Even if just to shake up the existing.</p> Any new ideas in this front are welcome by me…Even if just to shake up the existing.

]]> By: Tom Coseven http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-297066 Tom Coseven Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:04:19 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/02/verizon-frontline/#comment-297066 <p>Frontline's debate proposal was a Hail Mary pass, which Verizon has apparently blocked. There are only a few weeks left and Frontline hasn't been able to line up any major endorsement from public safety organizations, which as you point out was the key to success. Keep in mind you are asking public safety to give up control of a big chunk of spectrum to make this work, and there are competing national networks proposals, which give public safety more control.</p> <p>The FCC is at best split with McDowell, Tate against and Copps, Adelstein leaning for. Martin is supposedly in the middle, but only if the poison pills (wholesale and open roaming) are stripped out.</p> <p>Without the poison pills and bid credits, Frontline would be unlikely to win the bid, so they have a lot more at stake than just winning the national public/private network argument.</p> Frontline’s debate proposal was a Hail Mary pass, which Verizon has apparently blocked. There are only a few weeks left and Frontline hasn’t been able to line up any major endorsement from public safety organizations, which as you point out was the key to success. Keep in mind you are asking public safety to give up control of a big chunk of spectrum to make this work, and there are competing national networks proposals, which give public safety more control.

The FCC is at best split with McDowell, Tate against and Copps, Adelstein leaning for. Martin is supposedly in the middle, but only if the poison pills (wholesale and open roaming) are stripped out.

Without the poison pills and bid credits, Frontline would be unlikely to win the bid, so they have a lot more at stake than just winning the national public/private network argument.

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