FCC Chairman says 700 MHz spectrum must be open

In a move likely to have far reaching implications for both businesses and consumers alike, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has stated that whoever wins the forthcoming auction for the much-coveted 700 MHz spectrum must provide a "truly open broadband network." According to USA Today, Martin says that the only exceptions would be for "software that is illegal or could harm a network," leaving the network otherwise open for anyone to "use any wireless device and download any mobile broadband application, with no restrictions." The spectrum, being vacated by television broadcasters moving to digital TV, is expected to fetch some big bucks when it goes up on the auction block, with the FCC Chairman himself touting it as a "third pipe to the home." While Martin doesn't have any plans to extend the openness requirement to other parts of the wireless business, he does think this new move could pressure carriers to change their tactics, saying it "sends an important message."

[Via Phonescoop, photo courtesy of USA Today]

[Z @ Jul 10th 2007 5:34PM]

Good for him!

[Xavier Gill @ Jul 10th 2007 5:46PM]

Good for us!

[rock99rock @ Jul 10th 2007 5:58PM]

Hoooray Beer!

[Mike @ Jul 10th 2007 5:49PM]

Its great that they want to put this bandwidth to use. One thing to remember is that there are many other wireless devices that have piggybacked onto the TV spectrum over time and these devices will probably be wiped out by these new technologies. Wireless microphones for pro-audio setups almost all ride on this spectrum between the tv channels. I'm sure wireless headphones and other gadgets ride on this spectrum.

[Todd @ Jul 10th 2007 5:50PM]

This is a slam dunk for Google, free, unlimited, advertising supported quasi-muni WiFi! They have more money than God and can out bid anyone to buy the frequency.

Anyone know of a mobile phone handset sized WiFi chip that runs on 700MHz?

[Johan S @ Jul 10th 2007 6:08PM]

This could open the path to there being hundreds of brands of cell phones (like there are for PCs).
Eventually maybe people will be able to put together their own cell phone. This would be like assembling your own PC. Buy a custom custom case, buy a custom motherboard + graphics chip with wifi, 3G etc. And put their own display LCD. The only thing needed from the cell phone company would by a SIM card or something.

Mine would have a custom exotic alloy or carbon fibre style case, 800 px touchscreen display, live video share, 3G, and a decent camera with a nice lens. It would run a custom version of Linux or OpenMoko.
Oh yeah, to resurrect an idea that was floating around the net a couple years back .. maybe I would have the touchpad underneath the phone. It would have to press inwards to register a click. And i would have a button on the side of the case that functions like a mouse button. This button can then be used to tell the difference between whether user intent is dragging around, clicking, or pinching the window -- better than multitouch imho cause it can be used one handed and reliably.

Others have better ideas?

[ethana2 @ Aug 21st 2007 3:50AM]

No one here cares but me. I get that alot, too- hence the ranking. Send me your email and us nerds can discuss this elsewhere. I am very interested in doing so, by the way.

I'm [e-mail]

[Brad @ Sep 13th 2007 6:51PM]

I think the problem you're running into is the idea that cellphones - which are highly specialized and integrated devices - would become lego-kit-style devices. No one thinks that's a good idea because...well...it isn't. Connectors take up space and are prone to failure. People's fingers are only so delicate.

I think the closest you'd come to that is the old Motorola Pager-style of manufacturing, where you check off a dozen or so things you want in a phone and it arrives in two or three days. The odds of you building it at home, when all of the world's manufacturing and design technology is going the other direction is largely the reason behind the poor rating.

[Zarniwoop @ Jul 10th 2007 6:17PM]

Mobile pr0n ... give Verizon a whole new meaning to Get It Now!

[Mike @ Jul 10th 2007 6:26PM]

Wow...Manic Miner will really fly on a 700Mhz Spectrum.

[daemonios @ Jan 31st 2008 8:08AM]

[^_^] You just nearly made me wet my pants from laughing, Mike.

[Mark @ Jul 10th 2007 6:39PM]

This is awesome news for us consumers. The FCC needs to stop being the morality police and regulate the airwaves like they're supposed to.

[Aaron @ Jul 10th 2007 7:13PM]

The problem is the FCC has been on the side of big corporations more than consumers lately. This is at least a step in the right direction. So long as the "lobbyist" don't get to him.

Hard to believe AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile would just voluntarily give up their money tree cause the FCC says so.

A year from now we may end up with some watered down version of this while being charged out the wazoo because "The American People for Better Telecommunications" (or some such made up group) convinces the legislature how "bad" this will be for consumers.

[Josh Stearns @ Jul 10th 2007 7:58PM]

This is somewhat good news BUT - Martin is twisting the idea of "Open Access" - this is not the full and rich open access that media activist and citizens have been calling for at all.

For more info see:
http://savetheinternet.com/blog/

[brassready @ Jul 10th 2007 8:01PM]

Just to give you guys a heads up, Cellular carriers aren't the only one's haveing to change tactics. With the 700mhz spectrum leaving cable operaters, all of your "basic channels" will now be "digital". Sure they may remain the same lineup an even same price point, but user end equipment will have to change unless you already subscribe to digital service. Just something to think about.

[sam @ Jul 11th 2007 6:08PM]

hence the reason the gov't is going to give out vouchers for Dig To Anal converter boxes...

[ryanworrell @ Jul 11th 2007 2:00AM]

Public muni-porn servers for everyone. YAY!

[Tim @ Jul 11th 2007 7:56AM]

Fine print people. Its only two 11 Mhz blocks that will have this requirement. Also the 'open' part means things like you can use your Sprint phone on Verizons network (if this was used as a CDMA network) for example. It only means the carrier can not limit the end users product choices and content choice the way the do now, nothing more. Still thats pretty cool...wish they opened up the existing networks that way.

[timbern @ Jul 11th 2007 8:07AM]

BTW I suspect the carriers will respond by selling dual-mode devices that are limited the way they want that access both the 700 and their other network spectrum (800, 1900). Users that don't buy the carriers equipment will be limited to only this spectrum (but you'll pay the same price, I'm sure. ;^)
The only way to avoid this is to make them eventually open it all up.

[Richard @ Jul 11th 2007 11:42AM]

Wow... 11 Mhz of bandwidth @ 700 Mhz.

Let me repeat again: wow.

What's channel spacing going to be? 2.5 Mhz?

Boy, 2.5 Mhz of bandwidth... at 700 Mhz is a whole hell of nothing. Comparable to really really crappy DSL.

Third pipe?

Yeah, maybe if you mean sewer pipe. Because that's the value of it.

The FCC has you all suckered, yay-sayers above.

Study how the spectrum works and you'll see opening up 700Mhz is pretty much useless to be used as a "third pipe to the home".

[Tony Colonello @ Dec 11th 2007 7:04AM]

It'll be just like the 220 Mhz spectrum was several years ago.

It was taken from Ham operators because there was so much potential for public good use to it.

Well after setting around unused for years big money picked it up for a song and dance.

I don't have a clue what is on it now. I have heard that it might be medical devices or even that UPS and FedEx use it.