Comments on: FCC Chairmen battle on the wireless Frontline http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:35:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: VentureBeat » FCC to open wireless spectrum — will Google strike? http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-436588 VentureBeat » FCC to open wireless spectrum — will Google strike? Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:52:42 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-436588 <p>[...] Google’s blog on the matter is here. Notably, Google has concluded that the carriers and cable companies will win the auction, because they will have so much to lose from it that they’ll pour huge resources to make sure others can’t compete. Here’s a Google lobby letter. And Reed Hundt, head of Frontline Wireless, has reportedly even called Martin’s proposal a “dreadful plan,” before it is even released, apparently believing there will be so many loopholes that carriers will dominate despite the “open” ruling (details at GigaOm). [...]</p> [...] Google’s blog on the matter is here. Notably, Google has concluded that the carriers and cable companies will win the auction, because they will have so much to lose from it that they’ll pour huge resources to make sure others can’t compete. Here’s a Google lobby letter. And Reed Hundt, head of Frontline Wireless, has reportedly even called Martin’s proposal a “dreadful plan,” before it is even released, apparently believing there will be so many loopholes that carriers will dominate despite the “open” ruling (details at GigaOm). [...]

]]> By: GigaOM FCC Gives Google Half a Win « http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-402872 GigaOM FCC Gives Google Half a Win « Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:35:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-402872 <p>[...] Frontline Down, Not Out — A quick call with Frontline Wireless co-founder Reed Hundt following the FCC vote found the former FCC chairman discouraged but not [...]</p> [...] Frontline Down, Not Out — A quick call with Frontline Wireless co-founder Reed Hundt following the FCC vote found the former FCC chairman discouraged but not [...]

]]> By: Adam Segal http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-358470 Adam Segal Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:45:31 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-358470 <p>The Coalition to Keep America Connected today sent to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a petition signed by more than 800 telecommunications providers in 47 states urging adoption of the recommendation by federal and state experts to place a temporary cap on payments from the Universal Service Fund (USF) program to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs).</p> The Coalition to Keep America Connected today sent to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a petition signed by more than 800 telecommunications providers in 47 states urging adoption of the recommendation by federal and state experts to place a temporary cap on payments from the
Universal Service Fund (USF) program to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs).

]]> By: GigaOM Competition has a different meaning in the US « http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-339261 GigaOM Competition has a different meaning in the US « Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:00:30 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-339261 <p>[...] For rest of the planet, competition means opening up the existing networks, forcing the incumbents to share the last mile resources with the upstarts, so to speak. In the US, it means creating a brand new network, something that has been a pet project of suddenly competition-happy FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. [...]</p> [...] For rest of the planet, competition means opening up the existing networks, forcing the incumbents to share the last mile resources with the upstarts, so to speak. In the US, it means creating a brand new network, something that has been a pet project of suddenly competition-happy FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. [...]

]]> By: A.T. http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336960 A.T. Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:26:18 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336960 <p>the real openness starts with customers NOT locked with plans (read - undisputable contracts, effectively stopping them to change operator) AND two-better-three operators on each popular square foot of wireless coverage - come to Finland, see how it beats price down to minimal margin on top of costs.</p> the real openness starts with customers NOT locked with plans (read - undisputable contracts, effectively stopping them to change operator) AND two-better-three operators on each popular square foot of wireless coverage - come to Finland, see how it beats price down to minimal margin on top of costs.

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336933 Jesse Kopelman Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:14:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336933 <p>Richard, the short answer is that this would produce less up-front money. Anyway, the current process is actually a sort of perpetual lease and the government can break it. One of the reasons they seldom do is it would devalue future auctions (why pay big bucks if there is worry that the government may stiff you), or instead of just repossessing the spectrum they give different spectrum back in trade (e.g. the 800MHz SMR relocation to 1900MHz).</p> Richard, the short answer is that this would produce less up-front money. Anyway, the current process is actually a sort of perpetual lease and the government can break it. One of the reasons they seldom do is it would devalue future auctions (why pay big bucks if there is worry that the government may stiff you), or instead of just repossessing the spectrum they give different spectrum back in trade (e.g. the 800MHz SMR relocation to 1900MHz).

]]> By: Tech Policy Summit blog http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336373 Tech Policy Summit blog Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:23:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-336373 <p><strong>FCC Auction and Open Access</strong></p> <p>Both sides of the open access debate have been making their case in the media, in front of Congress, in letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and in the blogosphere this week, in anticipation of the FCC formally releasing</p> FCC Auction and Open Access

Both sides of the open access debate have been making their case in the media, in front of Congress, in letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and in the blogosphere this week, in anticipation of the FCC formally releasing

]]> By: Richard Mueller http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-335973 Richard Mueller Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:50:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-335973 <p>Why doesn't government lease spectrum instead of selling it? After all, it belongs to all of us. That would allow flexibility in the future.</p> Why doesn’t government lease spectrum instead of selling it? After all, it belongs to all of us. That would allow flexibility in the future.

]]> By: Jacomo http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-335406 Jacomo Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:37:11 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-335406 <p>The only real hope for an open network in the upper 700Mhz spectrum (only viable two way space) is for Google to team up with someone esle and use their deep pockets to beat Verizon Wireless at their game. Not much chance but still a glimmer.</p> <p>Jacomo</p> The only real hope for an open network in the upper 700Mhz spectrum (only viable two way space) is for Google to team up with someone esle and use their deep pockets to beat Verizon Wireless at their game. Not much chance but still a glimmer.

Jacomo

]]> By: David Mackey http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333805 David Mackey Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:31:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333805 <p>Here's hoping for an open standard still...</p> Here’s hoping for an open standard still…

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333471 Jesse Kopelman Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:29:37 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333471 <p>Everyone knows FCC stands for Fuck Carrier Competition.</p> Everyone knows FCC stands for Fuck Carrier Competition.

]]> By: Tom Coseven http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333214 Tom Coseven Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:19:54 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/10/fcc-chairmen-battle-on-the-wireless-frontline/#comment-333214 <p>Martin split the baby, which is what most people suspected he would do for the last month. It's hard to believe that Frontline doesn't already have a counter-proposal drafted that matches these exact conditions.</p> <p>Not many people actually believed it was possible to win on the bid credits, open roaming or wholesale requirements. However, losing the 12/10MHz public/private combination and not having the scaled back open access provisions applied to the adjacent spectrum was not predictable, as well as a much more serious blow.</p> <p>Frontline needs pull their act together in a hurry, and pick a battle they might be able to win. Allowing Reed Hundt to continue to distract from the core public safety message by whining about wholesale won't help Frontline win anything.</p> Martin split the baby, which is what most people suspected he would do for the last month. It’s hard to believe that Frontline doesn’t already have a counter-proposal drafted that matches these exact conditions.

Not many people actually believed it was possible to win on the bid credits, open roaming or wholesale requirements. However, losing the 12/10MHz public/private combination and not having the scaled back open access provisions applied to the adjacent spectrum was not predictable, as well as a much more serious blow.

Frontline needs pull their act together in a hurry, and pick a battle they might be able to win. Allowing Reed Hundt to continue to distract from the core public safety message by whining about wholesale won’t help Frontline win anything.

]]>