dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
view:
topics flat nest 
Comments on news posted 2012-02-09 18:32:58: Since 1993 the FCC has had the authority to place restrictions on auctions or conditions on spectrum (like requiring auction winners offer wholesale access) -- depending on the bidders' market dominance and/or current spectrum holdings. ..


KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

If AT&T is for it....

... you can assume it's a disaster for everybody else.... and you'd be right 100% of the time.

HaloFans
join:2006-12-18

1 edit

HaloFans

Member

Jobs: Speech Enhancer

Add to any speech, and people will say it's a good thing.

Example:

This *insert business transaction/political bill* will create jobs for America to return to its former glory. To do that, we will *insert corporate incentive* that will benefit everyone.

Here come the corporate apologists in 3, 2, 1.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Another view - Defending highest bidder wins rules

»www.usnews.com/opinion/b ··· spectrum

Spectrum is scarce—that is, the amount of information that can be pushed through those metaphoric airwaves is limited by economics and the state of technology. So most economists support auctioning spectrum to the highest bidder in order to make sure it ends up in the hands of those who value it most. Indeed, many have favored it ever since Nobel laureate economist Ronald Coase came up with the idea a half-century ago.

But the market for wireless networks, while competitive, has two clear industry leaders—Verizon and AT&T. And some telecom analysts argue that consumers would be better off if the auctions were set up to favor smaller companies, perhaps keeping the two industry leaders out of the game entirely.

We think the potential costs of such discrimination against the giants outweigh any plausible benefits. In fact, it's hard to think of a market in which the old saw—don't fix it if it ain't broke—fits better. Usage on wireless networks has been exploding—including usage by low-income groups and minorities. At the same time, charges for both voice and data use have been falling even as reliability and geographic coverage have been improving.

The risk here is that freezing the industry leaders in place while giving competitors indirect subsidies (in the form of less-than-competitive prices for spectrum) would slow innovation. Indeed, both of the industry leaders are racing to acquire the spectrum to broaden access to "4G" service—the sort needed to watch video without hiccups and to seamlessly manage a host of other sophisticated smartphone and tablet functions.

But the Federal Communications Commission, which has the last word on most mobile regulation (unless Congress pulls rank), has other priorities. It is apparently inclined to throw sand in the gears of Verizon and AT&T in the name of increasing competition.

a bill that would limit the FCC's discretion on spectrum auctions, giving everybody equal opportunity to participate in any auction. That strikes us as a reasonable place to start, since it makes sense to place the burden of proof on those who think discrimination against large firms in spectrum auctions would do more good than harm.

The authors:
Robert Hahn is director of economics at Oxford's Smith School, chief economist at the Legatum Institute, and a senior fellow at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy.

Peter Passell is a senior fellow at the Milken Institute in Santa Monica and the editor of its quarterly economic policy journal, The Milken Institute Review. They co-founded »Regulation2point0.org, a web portal on economic regulation.


HaloFans
join:2006-12-18

HaloFans

Member

Re: Another view - Defending highest bidder wins rules

Paid by AT&T and Verizon and company.

Paladin
Sage of the light
join:2001-08-17
Chester, IL

Paladin to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
Yet if you look at actual history, AT&T and Verizon freeze out innovation. AT&T simply wants supply and competitors cut down to raise prices and stifle competition, which in turn stifles competition.

They simply want a return to the Old Monopoly days minus the pesky regulations they had pre-1984. In this regard Verizon aids them because it creates a proxy alternative that isn't really any different - OK, maybe they manage their spectrum better and roll out 4G services out quicker, albeit for a very high premium. Still, it's not actual competition.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
It should go to the companies that are actually going to use it. IMO we need a hard deadline on usage* or the FCC simply takes it back, revokes the license and puts it up to auction again and the previous owner is not allowed to bid.

*Usage means on at least 75& of national population area to prevent them from putting up one tower in NYC and claim they are using it.

Metatron2008
You're it
Premium Member
join:2008-09-02
united state

Metatron2008 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
I would agree to let Verizon auction but not att. Verizon would use their spectrum...

sellithigh
@verizon.net

sellithigh

Anon

Auctions or Donations?

Whoever is willing to pay the most for the spectrum should get it, but there should be use it or lose it requirements to prevent spectrum squatting.

So if Verizon and at&t are willing to pay more for the spectrum, let them have it as it is more money in the US Treasury, but if they fail to put it to use within 3 years, they lose it with no refund.

FCC shouldn't be able to favor smaller competitors in spectrum auctions. That would be tantamount to the government telling me I can't sell my house to Donald Trump who wants to pay me a million dollars for it because I have to sell it to average Joe who can only pay one hundred thousand.

The purpose of any auction is to get as much as you possibly can, anything else is more like requesting donations.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Auctions or Donations?

said by sellithigh :

Whoever is willing to pay the most for the spectrum should get it, but there should be use it or lose it requirements to prevent spectrum squatting.

So if Verizon and at&t are willing to pay more for the spectrum, let them have it as it is more money in the US Treasury, but if they fail to put it to use within 3 years, they lose it with no refund.

FCC shouldn't be able to favor smaller competitors in spectrum auctions. That would be tantamount to the government telling me I can't sell my house to Donald Trump who wants to pay me a million dollars for it because I have to sell it to average Joe who can only pay one hundred thousand.

The purpose of any auction is to get as much as you possibly can, anything else is more like requesting donations.

I agree. Especially about the use it or lose it requirement.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Auctions or Donations?

The thing is, you have to watch out for "token" usage (for example putting up one tower in an area that has one transponder in the middle of said frequency) and then claiming you met the "use it" requirement.

The rules would have to require true deployed usage or else forfeit.
KrK

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Auctions or Donations?

Oh and no reselling it later for big $$$ either. You use it or LOSE it, not sell it!
CXM_Splicer
Looking at the bigger picture
Premium Member
join:2011-08-11
NYC

CXM_Splicer to KrK

Premium Member

to KrK
Yes, well business is King of finding and exploiting loopholes. Right or wrong... as long as it's legal! (and sometimes not even then)
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080 to sellithigh

Member

to sellithigh
The problem with this is there would have to be a no-loophole clause! If the spectrum paid for is entrenched in something a-la LightSquared's problem with GPS interference and the clock ticks down-- the lose the spectrum lock-stock-and-barrel when the clock reaches ZERO. NO excuses, NO exceptions, PERIOD! Good for the goose, good for the gander!
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to sellithigh

Premium Member

to sellithigh
will more spectrum cure overcrowded towers?

all the spectrum in the world wont help if you try and put 1000 people trying to watch Netflix through one tower. And as ATT and VZW seek to replace DSL with fixed LTE they will get people trying to use it like DSL(until they blow out their 1gb cap)

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Auctions or Donations?

said by Kearnstd:

will more spectrum cure overcrowded towers?

all the spectrum in the world wont help if you try and put 1000 people trying to watch Netflix through one tower. And as ATT and VZW seek to replace DSL with fixed LTE they will get people trying to use it like DSL(until they blow out their 1gb cap)

Just like cable does with splitting nodes, wireless providers can handle overloaded towers by splitting the coverage area and putting up another tower, using directional antennas, and then cutting the signal strength of each tower. This can be done multiple times in areas that are dense with users. In fact at outdoor sports venues with thousands of users that is how they handle the load.

»www.google.com/url?sa=t& ··· UDb8tmxA

NOCTech75
Premium Member
join:2009-06-29
Marietta, GA

NOCTech75

Premium Member

These guys remind me of Democrats and Republicans

D's and R's have done wonders in making 3rd parties life very difficult. McCain-Feingold, brainwashing citizens that any vote not for a D or R is a "waste" and doing the same garbage has shown that they are simply the same sides of a coin.

Verizon and AT&T do everything in their power to make 3rd companies very difficult. V or A don't care who you go far as long as it's one of them... and they get to increase market share together while "competing."

plk
Premium Member
join:2002-04-20
united state

plk

Premium Member

Lease the sprectrum

So why cant we lease it to them for lets say 10 yrs. Close to the end of the period the voters decide if they keep the lease
No reason why the ballot can't have 30 questions.

Someone should start a movement. Wouldn't Congress and big business just sh_t a brick