Verizon Wants, Doesn't Want, New Spectrum?

"Verizon CEO Iven Seidenberg, who is on his way out as CEO of Verizon"

What is your source that he's leaving?

Of course they want to have their cake and eat it too. Contrary to what most people think, big business actually welcomes regulation to an extent. They know that they can use their legions of lobbyists and political contributions to ensure that regulations get written to protect their existing business model and shut out competitors. It's also easier for a big business to comply with said regulations than it would be for a small upstart that can't afford legions of lawyers.

The fact that Verizon seeks to use the regulatory system to it's advantage should surprise no one. The fact that we let them get away with it should engage anybody who is informed enough to be engaged in the political process.

its not like ceos aren't calling the shots in America. PERHAPS its time to kick out obama and put in the JOE BIDEN for president
and then next up the mpaa chief

yea why not its good for you. YOU NEED THIS PAIN before you realize its a scam ALL OF IT

Minor nitpick, but the United States isn't a Democracy in the classical sense. It's a Constitutional Republic.

A better solution than gutting it would be to take it back -- no where is it written in stone that our choices are limited to those that work for big media (Democrats) and those that work for big industry (Republicans).

Of course the majority of the American people are too busy consuming opiates for the masses to even bother to vote, let alone get outraged by what's going on. As long as American Idol comes on when it's supposed to they won't get outraged enough to involve themselves in our political system. More's the pity.

How about making Ted Stevens President? He knows the internet isn't a truck.

Even though Ted Stevens looks like he was run over by a truck

But then Sarah Palin can't run as VP again unless she moves to a different state....

Is there a clear, defined plan for use of the spectrum (not just an outline like the broadband plan is), or is this yet another spectrum grab for telcos?

Seidenberg is afraid most of the new wireless spectrum that would be made available won't go to Verizon. That would make more competition to Verizon's dominant position in the US. If Verizon can't get the spectrum, they would prefer it not be made available at all.

Well the spectrum would be auctioned. After spending billions on the 700 Mhz spectrum and billions on FiOS development, investors are probably worried about spending billions more. Which means at&t would likely get much of the new spectrum and Verizon doesn't want that. If the FCC had talked about 2025 or 2030 then Verizon probably be all for it.

Hell they haven't used ANY of the 700 MHz spectrum they bought 3 years ago.

I agree. There should be a "Use It or Lose It" provision in the Auction Terms. If you do not use the Spectrum (as opposed to warehousing it to keep others from using it) within a designated period of time, it should be confiscated and resold with you being ineligible for bidding for it again and also ineligible for a refund on your purchase.

And they are sitting on tons of other spectrum. If you're in Verizon's world then correct there is no crunch on spectrum due to the licenses they have.

To be fair, Verizon is going to use it for their LTE network, but it's taking time to get it out there.

IOW: They are warehousing it (as I stated) and claiming they they will eventually use it [with no firm "will be in use by date"] - Meanwhile not CURRENTLY using it or allowing anyone who would/could use it NOW from being able/allowed to use it. They have been sitting on it for 3 years and have done NOTHING with it except to prevent it from being used.

And what is a REASONABLE period of time to put an asset you paid BILLIONS for in to use? I think the FCC says 10 yrs. You say what?

I'm sure T-Mobile will gladly take 500MHz of spectrum!

Keep in mind until June 2009 many electronics were still operating. Then they still had an additional delay before they could begin testing LTE on the 700MHZ. According to what VZW continues to say they are still on course for 30 LTE markets in 2010.

True, but considering the US Government owns the spectrum he has nothing to say about it, other than, ``I see your $15 Billion and raise you to $20 Billion!''