Google will "probably" bid in the FCC’s 700 MHz spectrum auction set to take place in 2008, CEO Eric Schmidt told attendees at a Colorado summit with telecommunications industry representatives heavily in attendance.
FCC Voting On Wireless Spectrum Today
The Federal Communications Commission will lay down the ground rules for the 700MHz auction coming in 2008, as Google and a host of telcos watch.
Will Google Bid On The Wireless Spectrum?
Tomorrow, the FCC will vote on rules, proposed by Chairman Kevin Martin, governing the auction of the 700 MHz band of wireless spectrum. Trying its best to persuade the commission to endorse neutrality in the airwaves, similar to what many want to happen with the Internet, Google succeeded in getting at least two of its four wishes granted.
Amid Spectrum, Google Becomes The White Knight
Google announced this morning its intention to bid in the upcoming 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction, which is being touted as one of the most important communications auctions in American history. The company said it’s willing to bid a minimum of $4.6 billion.
FCC May Force Open Wireless Spectrum
What’s this? Is FCC Chairman Kevin Martin actually about to acknowledge that incumbent phone companies may have too tight a grip on their market and discourage real innovation? Maybe his head’s not as thick as we thought.
FCC’s Adelstein Takes Up Open Spectrum Cause
One down, four to go. That’s the count supporters of open airwaves and neutral networks are holding up as Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein publicly voices his support for requiring winners of the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction to keep a chunk of it open to competition.
Kerry Urges FCC To Open Up Spectrum Auction
Former Presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator John Kerry weighed in on the upcoming 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction, asking the Federal Communications Commission not to close off bidding to incumbent telecommunication and cable companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast.
Google Gives FCC Advice On Spectrum Auction
Looks like Google’s out to save the world again; the search engine company, which claims it won’t bid in an upcoming radio spectrum auction, is nonetheless proposing a new way for the FCC to conduct the affair. According to Google, its method would increase competition among telecom companies (and thus benefit consumers).
Google To Lobby FCC About Spectrum Auctions
Google, Yahoo, and eBay have enlisted satellite carriers EchoStar and DirecTV to help them lobby the Federal Communications Commission about keeping a close eye on how spectrum auctions are conducted. The alliance aims to put tighter reins on incumbent last mile providers of broadband access.
The last mile and who controls it has been a mounting concern among the major "network-less" players like Google, Yahoo, and eBay. The concern rises from suspicion of the telecommunications industry, and its control over chokepoints.
Spectrum of Corporate Social Media
Dan Mitchell’s What’s Online column in the NY Times highlights the grey area of the Business Blogging Wiki: