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FCC 700Mhz Vote Tomorrow
Google gets familiar with K-Street
by Karl Bode Monday 30-Jul-2007 tags: competition · fcc · wireless · AT&T · Verizon · Google
Tomorrow the FCC votes on 700Mhz auction rules, the spectrum being the last great chance for broadband competition according to consumer advocates. Google wants auction rules imposed that would require auction winners resell access wholesale, offer unlocked devices, and allow unimpeded access to all services and content. The reality is they're going to see a fraction of that.

The Washington Post has an interesting piece on the auction and Google's introduction to lobbying:

"Google also frequently invites prominent politicians to tour its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. But its 2006 congressional lobbying budget of about $770,000, according to public disclosures, is dwarfed by the $21 million spent by AT&T and $14.4 million spent by Verizon the same year."

The impact of that spending difference should be made apparent by this time tomorrow.

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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

1 edit

I know what the rules will be;

Rule number 1; American Citizen's you are screwed.
Rule number 2; read rule number one.

Karl Bode
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Road Runner
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Re: I know what the rules will be;

I'm guessing they'll look pretty good at first glance: some Carterfone principles that demand unlocked devices. The fact that most of them can be wiggled around by lawyers is never made apparent in the wash of initial coverage because all the journalists have to wait for the lawyers themselves to dissect the orders and rules......

KA3SGM
- -... ...- -
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join:2006-01-17
West Chester, PA

Re: I know what the rules will be;

Karl, what if Google actually becomes the 'NEW' AT&T???

Anyway, thanks for being the 'News Guy' !
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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The so called Carter phone provisions will only apply to 22 mhz of the spectrum, plus, apparently, there are ways to get around even those requirements.

The best consumers can hope for is in 5 years that there *might* be some regulatory pressure to open devices. *Might*.

This auction seems as rigged as the rest.
--
"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!)

Karl Bode
News Guy
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kudos:30

1 edit

Re: I know what the rules will be;

That's just it. A third of the spectrum, and with legal loopholes out the wazzoo.

It will be interesting to see how many outlets proclaim this a "Huge win for consumers" and other nonsense....
bi0tech

join:2003-06-19
Cockeysville, MD
Reviews:
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It's amusing that the backlash from the Iphone restrictions may ultimately just allow the FCC and congress investigators to prove they are watching out for the consumer by forcing 'cartephone.' While most of the protections that could truely make a difference will just be swept under the rug.

The government will claim a win by pulling in billions. The big players will almost certainly be happy by gobbling down more spectrum, consolidating a continued stranglehold on the system. And dozens of articles will be written by corporate stooges and clueless dupes to tell America about the new generation of choice they have in paying the same companies all over again.

blech
eatech

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518131
"Yes Mi Agi son!"
ross

join:2000-08-16

In the words of Yakov Smirnoff...

"Vat a country!"

ninjatutle
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join:2006-01-02
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.

I hope those google commies don't get what they want

jhboricua
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Minneapolis, MN

Re: .

Considering your comment I doubt you understand what they want in the first place.

ninjatutle
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Re: .



Sure I understand

bmn
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1 edit
Sure he does... He wants ATT or Verizon to win the auction and for the American consumer to be no better off than we are now since there won't be any more competition on the wireless playing field.
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batterup
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said by ninjatutle:

I hope those google commies don't get what they want
They should take some of the billions they make by pandering to the communist government in China and buy the spectrum.
gopnick

join:2005-01-07
Benton, AR

Re: .

Hear, Hear!

KrK
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said by batterup:

They should take some of the billions they make by pandering to the communist government in China and buy the spectrum.
Yeah! Make Billions pandering to Chinese Communists!



It's far more profitable to be a monopoly player and oppress U.S. Consumers.... Let AT&T have the spectrum already!
--
"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!)

Ream0

@rr.com

How Insulting

I'm sure money has already already switched hands under the FCC Round Table ,and the parties involved already know the outcome of the ^cough^ auction. I wish our government would stop putting on stupid sideshows giving us the illusion democracy.

As usual, joe working taxpayer is going to get screwed again ,and the likes of Ma Bell are going to wipe their asses with thousand dollar bills.
tsmith20

join:2007-07-18
Cadillac, MI

What Is 700Mhz?

What is 700 Mhz and what will it do? Is it something to do with internet connection. A radio signal?

The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
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Atlantic, IA

Re: What Is 700Mhz?

said by tsmith20:

What is 700 Mhz and what will it do? Is it something to do with internet connection. A radio signal?
It's for power meters, so they don't have to go door to door and read the meter. That and family radios and those microphones you can use to sing thru your radio. That's why it's so valuable.
bmn
? ? ?
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Re: What Is 700Mhz?

said by The Beer:

That and family radios and those microphones you can use to sing thru your radio.
Yeah, $deity knows that something like singing through your radio is just something we need to preserve.
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tsmith20

join:2007-07-18
Cadillac, MI
Oh so .. They will save alot of money by not sending people to keep track of the meters. Whats google have to do w/ it then? They are buying out all the shares.. then reselling later down the road to att, verizion ..I read something about this earlier this week. About wanting something in order to this. Like open networks to do this 700Mhz thing? Im confused...

quetwo
That VoIP Guy
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East Lansing, MI
700Mhz spectrum is actually used by VHF television right now. Since the VHF (Channels 2-13) are being vacated soon, the government is planning an auction for that spectrum space. The cell phone companies want this spectrum because it can go through materials much easier than their current spectrum (1800Mhz, 1900Mhz). For example, with 700Mhz, and the current power output of most cell providers, they would need less towers to get cell spectrum into your home.

Google and some ISPs want the spectrum because it is optimal for wireless. (Long-range wireless, rather than a wireless router for use at home).

Really, you can do almost anything with the spectrum, however only those with the cash (cell companies) will be able to bid for it. Millions to Billions will go for the rights of the spectrum, mostly to large corporations.

arealdsltech
Premium
join:2007-02-27
Oklahoma City, OK

Re: What Is 700Mhz?

You are partially correct. The 700Mhz band is occupied by TV channels that are being vacated, see chart here:

»www.arrl.org/tis/info/catv-ch.html

The spectrum is being relicensed for 2way wireless communication like Cell phones and Wireless Internet.
--
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Diddy1

join:2003-07-19
Sidney, NE

1 edit
said by quetwo:

.... however only those with the cash (cell companies) will be able to bid for it. Millions to Billions will go for the rights of the spectrum, mostly to large corporations.
Some states are giving grant money to small companies to buy these licenses in "less than desirable" markets. It makes it look like said state is actually following suit with the whole "broadband for everyone" thing. Broadband is already in abundance in some areas(mine) by several providers. Makes it hard to be a small provider

quetwo
That VoIP Guy
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East Lansing, MI

Re: What Is 700Mhz?

That is assuming that the states can put up enough money to compete against the cell-companies.

A large reason for the cellular companies to want the spectrum, in my opinion is really to block competitors from accessing it. There are no hand-held devices that have radios tuned to the 700Mhz scope... Having radios (cell phones) tuned at more frequencies use more power, unless they plan to make them just compatible with the 700Mhz scope, in which case those areas that they aren't bidding (or winning), these devices won't work.

MalibuMaxx
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1 edit
I understand this but Isn't this spectrum analog... Could they (the cell phone companies) make it digital... does it even matter?

And if they were to make it a WiFi/WiMax kinda thing could the signal be amplified both ways upload and download. Could get kind of tricky don't you think...

alg
Passionately apathetic
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Houston, TX
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Re: What Is 700Mhz?

said by MalibuMaxx:

I understand this but Isn't this spectrum analog... Could they (the cell phone companies) make it digital... does it even matter?
Whether it's digital or analog depends on how you choose to use the spectrum. ALL forms of radio communication operate on the same spectrum.
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Wh1

@qrivy.net

Something good or the S.O.S.

I hope this really does turn out to be an auction and not just some "dog and pony show" for consumer amusement.

As it stands now, Google could join forces with the other non-incumbent players and possibly do well.


N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
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Re: Something good or the S.O.S.

said by Wh1 :

I hope this really does turn out to be an auction and not just some "dog and pony show" for consumer amusement.

As it stands now, Google could join forces with the other non-incumbent players and possibly do well.

Everything involving the government is a dog and pony show on one level or another.

Take it from someone who has worked for the government on the federal, state, county, and municipal level. Your elected and appointed officials are blowing sunshine up your skirt.

All of them are full of shit. It's so sad.....
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bmn
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Re: Something good or the S.O.S.

said by N3OGH:

All of them are full of shit. It's so sad.....
Heh, reminds me of a joke we used to toss around...

What's the difference between a 5' 7" politician and a 5' 7" pile of shit ?
You can smell the pile of shit before you are in the same room as it.
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction

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00000

increase that lobbying budget!

google, you have to play by their rules. use some of your billions to play the game!
mieses

join:2001-06-22
Redmond, WA

1 edit

Re: increase that lobbying budget!

Unlike ATT/Verizon, Google's success comes from winning in market competition. People choose to use Google. People are forced to use ATT and Verizon. All Google has is their reputation. They need to play the game, but with higher standards.
chemaupr

join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA

Re: increase that lobbying budget!

I agree. If Google starts bankrolling millions as ATT / VZ then they will just follow their steps as they will want to guarantee some return on the millions spent in lobbying.

tlp95949

@12.24.63.x

What about white space proposal?

In all the discussion about auctioning the to-be-abandoned 700-800 MHz UHF TV channels, the idea about using the unused TV channels in local markets seems to have been lost. It's an interesting idea, although it would seem that the devices to combine that gapped spectrum would be more complex and expensive.
bi0tech

join:2003-06-19
Cockeysville, MD
Reviews:
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Re: What about white space proposal?

Gapping and portability. You'd need a transceiver and signaling method capable of combining the disjointed spectrum. As well as some sort of lineup channel broadcast so the device would know what is not a registered block in the area it's in. Then theres issues with overlap in multi-metro areas.

It's possible but I don't think you'll see anyone clamoring to try and pull it off.
tsmith20

join:2007-07-18
Cadillac, MI

700MHz

So when the tv signal switches over to digital. Then they will be able to use it. Also someone mention that WISP could also use the 700Mhz spectrum. So the signal can travlel a longer ways with out losing any signal. I know some people can get WISP from 20 miles away and still get good connection. How far will it travel when WISP get ahold of the 700Mhz? 50 miles somewhere around there?

See 6 replies to this post

plk
Lil' Duffer Burger Barn
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Ogden, IA

I wish I could draw real good

I sure wish I could draw real good and fast. I would be drawing cartoons every day about this.
My first one would be Ed Whitacre with his puppet Kevin Martin. I would be as nasty as I could get.

I knew I should have learned photoshop.
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ricep5
Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL

Multi Freq Router

Someone built a 3 frequency router using Linux a few years ago using the 900Mhz, 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz spectrum.

5Ghz for up close (50 meters), switch to 2.4 for medium range (300 meters) and then to 900Mhz for some good distance, 3 miles before losing signal.

If someone builds a 4 band router, you could have some interesting possibilities. 900Mhz is currently for public use like 2.4Ghz, mostly in old cordless phones and remote controls.

So opening up 700Mhz could bring some innovative products.
tsmith20

join:2007-07-18
Cadillac, MI

Re: Multi Freq Router

The future is looking really bright for us I could finaly get some high speed internet. I cant wait to get wireless internet. Tired of this 24k dial up crap
Joseph327

join:2006-02-03
Jacksonville, FL

It's For You.

Idiots...

airtouch25

join:2007-05-22
united state

Google's Great PR Initiative

Why won't Google simply purchase (bid) for spectrum and do what they want with it instead of trying to force the FCC to create specialized rules for the winner?

It's because they really don't want to pay for it. They rather have the telcos buy it and simply be able to do whatever-whenever they want with it.

I'm all for open access and I appreciate Google's applications, but they're no victim here. They have just as much self interest for their own business plans as do the at&t's and Verizon's of the world. Painting them as the selfless freedom fighters who plan to save the internet is the result of Google's great PR initiatives.

Again, I'm all for open access and I don't have a problem with anyone wholesaling airspace to the small guys, but let Google prove it by ponying up the money it takes to make it happen. Let them take on the telcos directly. They have a market share of over $170 billion and have the cash to put their money where their mouth is.

See 11 replies to this post

TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
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Lobbies

Lobbies...must...go...away...

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