FCC To Nix Free M2Z Broadband Plan Today? > It's Official - FCC shoots down M2Z & NetfreeUS

Promoting broadband deployment and increasing penetration has been, and continues to be, one of my highest priorities. This spectrum has the potential to encourage the provision of a variety of broadband services and by a variety of different competitors in support of this goal. As several commenters have urged in recent days, the public interest is best served by considering fully the best use of this spectrum in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, rather than through forbearance petitions seeking exclusive use for a single entity filed by M2Z and NetfreeUS. The Commission received multiple proposals for innovative use of this spectrum apart from those proposed by M2Z and NetfreeUS, and they deserve due consideration as well. For example, many have suggested that we should auction this spectrum, while still others suggest that due to the high demand for this spectrum we should consider unlicensed use of the band. Each of these proposals has merit, and consideration of either would be inappropriately foreclosed by granting forbearance in this instance. We plan to issue this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking shortly to address these issues and adopt flexible rules that will encourage the innovative use of this unique piece of spectrum.