 qworster
join:2001-11-25 Los Angeles, CA
·DSL EXTREME
·Brand X Internet
·RoadRunner Cable
·Vonage
2 edits | This surprises you?
The FCC BENDS OVER for big $$. Period!
They could give two sh**s about the "public interest" any more. Odd, especially when you consider the public interest is why they exist!
The FCC is part of the Executive Branch and as such is directly run by Dick Cheney. Knowing what a crook HE is, this shouldn't surprise anyone.
I love this part:
"I'm concerned we missed an opportunity to provide an elusive third broadband channel into the home," FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said in a statement.
Then why did you VOTE for it, IDIOT???!!! |
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 nasadude
join:2001-10-05 Rockville, MD
·Comcast
| uh oh, we scrooged
there goes the last chance for broadband competition in the U.S.
I like the way the article headline spins this: FCC embraces open access. Just enough to not be worth much (if anything), but gives the anti-consumers something to point to about how great this will be for consumers.
only hope now is if google has a surprise and is willing to bid huge $$$$ for spectrum - remember, they have to overcome the telco anti-competition premium (value to incumbents of locking out competition that is over and above the inherent spectrum value). |
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 jlsjrf29
join:2002-05-12 San Jose, CA | Google dont bid
If you cant get full open access then I wouldnt bid on it thats just my 2 cents. |
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 pcnetworx1
join:2005-09-21 Bethel Park, PA | Google + Microsoft + Apple bid team?
Hey, that would be interesting, my enemy's enemy is my friend kind of deal 
Oh wait, nix Apple, they work with ATT...
(yes, I'm talking jokingly with this idea) |
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 bmn ? ? ? Premium,ExMod 2003-06 join:2001-03-15 hiatus
3 edits | Just goes to show...
The FCC operates on behalf of big business, not the people who they are suppose to be working for.
The weakened rules are definitely going to be a boon for whatever company grabs the spectrum up for auction, but one thing is clear, the consumers of America lost again. The likely outcome now is that some well established player, probably Verizon or ATT, will grab the spectrum and we'll be left with the same players as before and no innovative new services. After all, neither of them have said anything about actually doing anything with it.
You want that cool, ubiquitous, high-speed wireless data access like they have in Star Trek and all those Sci-Fi movies? Not bloody likely in America now. One can only hope tomorrow looks better.
edit:typos -- Prove it... Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. |
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  TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
2 edits | Some FCC links shown below for this decision
The news release in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/700mhz_news_r···3107.pdf
Commissioner Copps' statement in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/copps_700mhz_···3107.pdf
Commissioner Adelstein's statement in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/adelstein_700···3107.pdf
Commissioner McDowell's Statement in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/mcdowell_700m···3107.pdf
Commissioner Martin's Statement in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/martin_700mhz···3107.pdf
Commissioner Tate's Statement in Adobe Acrobat(PDF) format: »www.fcc.gov/073107/tate_700mhz_S···3107.pdf
-- -- Internet News My BLOG My Web Page |
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  TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
3 edits | Good News: rules will have anonymous bidding
»www.fcc.gov/073107/700mhz_news_r···3107.pdf
In the upcoming 700 MHz auction, the FCC will use anonymous bidding procedures, in which any information that may indicate specific applicants interests in the auction, including their license selections and bidding activity, is withheld until after the close of the auction. These procedures will be used irrespective of any pre-auction measurement of likely competition in the auction. This helps preclude gaming the system by the large telcos like they did on the last auction. This rule was pushed for hard by public interest groups.
Also there will be buildout requirements:
New, more stringent performance requirements were adopted for commercial licenses that have not yet been auctioned in order to promote better access to spectrum and the provision of service, especially in rural areas. For licenses based on CMAs and EAs, licensees are required to provide service sufficient to cover at least 35 percent of the geographic area of their license within four years, and 70 percent of this area by the end of the license term. For licenses based on REAGs, licensees must provide service sufficient to cover at least 40 percent of the population of their license area within four years, and 75 percent of the population of the license area by the end of the license term. If licensees fail to meet the four-year, interim geographic or population benchmark, the license term will be reduced from ten to eight years, thus requiring these licensees to meet the end-of-term benchmark at an accelerated schedule. Interim reporting requirements have also been adopted to ensure that build out is timely. If licensees fail to meet the end-of-term buildout requirements, the FCC will automatically reclaim the unserved portions of the license area and make them available to other potential users. -- -- Internet News My BLOG My Web Page |
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 nasadude
join:2001-10-05 Rockville, MD
·Comcast
| reply to jlsjrf29 Re: Google dont bid
actually, I'm hoping nobody will bid except the incumbents and the auction falls far short of its revenue goals. Not that this will result in anything different happening, but at least we could say "nanny nanny boo boo".
google might bid on the 22Mhz set aside for open access, but I don't know useful it is. Not sure if the incumbents will bid on this or not with the open access. My guess is if they do bid on it and win, they will either do nothing with it or just ignore the open access rules. |
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 nasadude
join:2001-10-05 Rockville, MD
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to TKJunkMail Re: Good News: rules will have anonymous bidding
from what I have read anonymous bidding is a good thing, but not a panacea for the problems of no competition.
build out requirements won't stop the incumbents from playing games - it looks like they can tie up the spectrum for 10 years to keep competitors from using it. And even then, they could decide to take it to court and tie it up for even longer.
yes indeed, broadband consumers are well and truly screwed for the next ten years. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it. |
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  Karl Bode News Guy join:2000-03-02
Host: Road Runner PC gaming GAMES PC gaming Tech
| reply to qworster Re: This surprises you?
quote: While this item does not deliver everything consumers and innovators wanted, or many of the improvements I suggested, our decision today represents an important step, if a modest one, in the right direction. We can be proud to say we are offering consumers a new paradigm they have longed for and certainly deserve.
Apparently letting consumers actually access this unbuilt network with their laptop is a "new paradigm." |
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  hitman_001 Premium join:2006-11-20 Laredo, TX
| reply to nasadude Re: Good News: rules will have anonymous bidding
quote: The licensees of the Upper 700 MHz Band C Block of spectrum will be required to provide a platform that is more open to devices and applications. This would allow consumers to use the handset of their choice and download and use the applications of their choice in this spectrum block, subject to certain reasonable network management conditions that allow the licensee to protect the network from harm.
Considering Verizon and others dont allow most 3rd party apps to their current network because "they may harm the network" I guess thats the loophole provided to insure that no future third party apps make it in. -- Hn7000s Small Office plan/.74m dish & 1Watt Trans on Satmex 5 Signal: 86/Win XP Pro SP2/P4 3gig, 2Gigs Ram, Radeon X1300 500meg video |
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  SRFireside
join:2001-01-19 Houston, TX | Correct me if I'm wrong...
...but if Google does bid for the spectrum and wins won't it be there prerogative whether or not to hold true to their demands? I mean the FCC can't force them not to offer open access and all that, can they? |
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  KrK Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
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| said by SRFireside :...but if Google does bid for the spectrum and wins won't it be there prerogative whether or not to hold true to their demands? I mean the FCC can't force them not to offer open access and all that, can they? Under the rules of this auction, nobody will be required to allow open access to their network.
Note: Required. If the winner of the auction, chose to do so, that's their prerogative. -- "Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) |
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  Karl Bode News Guy join:2000-03-02
Host: Road Runner PC gaming GAMES PC gaming Tech
| reply to SRFireside quote: ...but if Google does bid for the spectrum and wins won't it be there prerogative whether or not to hold true to their demands? I mean the FCC can't force them not to offer open access and all that, can they?
Correct. Google here is simply protecting their ad territory with a political play. They wanted guidelines imposed so when the incumbents win the spectrum, they'd have to make sure Google ads got through via GoogleTalk and whatever else...
I doubt they actually bid on the spectrum, and if they do maybe it will be in joint fashion with Sprint or someone. |
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  packetscan Premium join:2004-10-19 Bridgeport, CT clubs: | Weeee
Again the Consumer is RAILED.
Don't fool yourself.
Lobbyists are to Washington as concierge is to a high roller in a hotel. Your wish is their command- -- Reach out and Tap someone! |
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 Eric Martin
join:2005-06-19 66308
| This whole thing stinks to high hell
Because no one in the media(Time,newsweek,localpaper) gives a s**t , nothing will be done.
Cell phone, broadband will always be in $20-30 a month range with nickel&diming for every stupid feature.
There needs to be a peaceful guerilla campaign to JAM cellphone networks and radio freq.
Those airwaves belong to the people. |
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 Eek2121 Lovin Verizon FIOS
join:2002-10-12 Flanders, NJ
| Dear Google
For the LOVE OF CHRIST PLEASE Bid on this spectrum. (AND WIN)
I am sick and tired of insanely large telecom companies destroying the free internet. -- Need Web Hosting? Try ConnectiveX! |
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 jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10 Youngstown, OH | A dark day..
This is a dark day in U.S. telecommunications history. Pity. --
- "Techie" Jim |
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  TScheisskopf World News Trust
join:2005-02-13 Belvidere, NJ | As long as Kevin Martin is at the helm of the FCC, every day is a dark day in the history of telecommunications. He is just lining up a high-paying job at one of the incumbents, for when he steps down. |
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  compaqdwarf
@ameritech.net | Lobby Money
Google talked the big game but didnt put up the lobby money They would need Microsoft, Yahoo, and the Cablco mafia on their side to go up against the telco lobby |
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