FCC Chairman looking to kill "free internet" plan?

If you've got concerns about not getting your fair shake on the new 700MHz spectrum, don't worry, because a group known as M2Z (backed by Google, Amazon, Netscape, MySpace, and TiVO) has got you covered. The gang is looking for the FCC to break off 25MHz of the new spectrum to set up a "free" wireless internet stream for nearly 95 percent of Americans to go surfing on. There's only one problem: the FCC doesn't look like it's going to give it up. AIn a recent request to the federal agency, M2Z asks to be given bandwidth on the soon-to-be-abandoned airwaves, instead of following typical FCC procedure which requires an auction to be held. In the M2Z plan, the U.S. Treasury would get 5 percent kickbacks from any gross revenue the network derived, though it appears FCC chairman Kevin Martin is looking to put a kibosh on the plot. According to the Wall Street Journal, Martin has circulated a document to other FCC commissioners calling for them to decline the group's proposal, and the CTIA (the wireless industry's lobby group), meanwhile, has urged the agency to "dismiss or deny M2Z's application," on the grounds that it would circumvent standard procedure. You can expect some serious back-and-forth over this in the upcoming days, so you'd better get used to the 700MHz soap-opera.

[regbo @ Aug 16th 2007 8:00PM]

This right here is an example of a democracy not working. I can almost guarantee that %95 of American's would want this spectrum to be handed over to M2Z, instead of it being given to the deep pocketed cable companies. They will pay top dollar for it, despite the fact that they already have an established infrastructure, and it is simply to keep competitors out. Will politicians give the people what they want? No. They cater to there buddies at CableLabs first.

[regbo @ Aug 16th 2007 8:02PM]

ah, I posted that too fast. their*, 95%*

[Zorque @ Aug 16th 2007 8:01PM]

"Circumvent standard procedure", more like "not net us billions".

[Ratchet the Lombax @ Aug 16th 2007 10:56PM]

I agree, even though I'm all for companies following procedures and whatnot I don't see how this could hurt anyone. I mean the M2Z people are not going to make any money on the deal are they? Maybe a little but no real profit just enough to keep the free internet service running. This is just a case of someone warring more about money than doing something nice for others.

[eric cumbee @ Aug 16th 2007 8:04PM]

kind of like the company wanted the fcc to give them the part reserved for first responders, to use with there system and then sell it to the various first responder agencies. Plus they were lobbying for federal funds to help them build the system.

I say let them bid like everyone else. If the financial resources of all those companies can not outbid everyone else for that space, then they probably do not need it.

[The Aggie CEO™ @ Aug 16th 2007 8:09PM]

wow..........

Just like the damn US Gov't..........

As stingy as they are acting you would think that frequency had billions of gallons of oil in it or something.........

[dj-kenpo @ Aug 16th 2007 8:20PM]

imagine a world where america has a democracy. now keep imagining.

I love payoffs and bribes, you can smell them from a mile away.

[apeguero @ Aug 16th 2007 8:26PM]

What's ironic here is that the 700mhz band was paid for with tax money you and I gave to the US Government so in escense the damned thing is already ours. Is this Communism or something? WTF?

[scabies @ Aug 16th 2007 8:41PM]

Martin has circulated a document to other FCC commissioners calling for them to decline the group's proposal.

reminds me of those spam emails: Pioneer brand Pancake Mix found to have fatal mold! signed: FDA chairman Joe Blow. plz fwd, kthxbye.

Bose Speakers found to cause cancer! signed Surgeon General

n00bs want bandwidth! otehnoes!

[Chris Fields @ Aug 16th 2007 9:10PM]

M2Z (which stands for Move To Zero) wants the FCC to “give” the company 20 Mhz of spectrum in the 2GHz band (2155-2175MHz). In exchange they’d offer free wireless broadband to 95 percent of all American residents within 10 years — and provide The Treasury with 5% of the profits off the top, mostly coming from its premium service.

Go to DailyWireless.Org for the Story http://www.dailywireless.org/2007/08/15/m2z-free-internet-now/

[craper @ Aug 16th 2007 9:18PM]

Lets see they predict the sale of the 700 MHz would bring 15 billion WOW that will pay for one week expenses for the War

[Jeff @ Aug 16th 2007 9:40PM]

This is an example of DEMOCRACY WORKING. MZ2 is a FOR-PROFIT venture backed business with a *seemingly noble* purpose. Rather than give a for-profit company a very valuable asset, ou government is selling the asset and raising proceeds, proceeds that benefit us in the form of national infrastructure.

With its *stated purpose* or providing free internet, MZ2 must have some other more subtle means of generating revenue (possibly encroaching on YOUR privacy when you use the free internet). You think VC firms (like Kleiner Perkins) could answer to their investors if they were to invest dollars in true social entrepreneurship ventures? http://www.m2znetworks.com/about-company/investors/

Make a pefunctory effort to get key facts before you mouth off at the government

[Antonio @ Aug 16th 2007 9:41PM]

This band should be LEASED, not sold, thus insuring revenue into the Fed budget for all Americans forever, not for a few forever.
How about a link to send comments to the Commissioners rather than just triggering all the "there's nothing I can do about it" cynicism showing in the comments?
make them accountable!

Ant

[Daniel @ Aug 17th 2007 3:04AM]

Insuring revenue?!? I am pretty certain that you cannot "insure" revenue. I called Geico and they told me they have no policy in place to "insure" revenue. However "ensuring" revenue, that is something quite different. Please learn proper English before posting a response.

[Zorque @ Aug 17th 2007 3:09AM]

It's a common mistake, and you're taking it very seriously. I've seen the same error made in official legal documents and other (both State and Federal) Government papers, so it's not like anybody's died over the usage of "insure" rather than "ensure".

[Blake Brannon @ Aug 16th 2007 10:08PM]

Yeah I agree. Leasing would be much better from the FCC's standpoint. This just shows you what good friends AT&T has in the government.

[BoredOne @ Aug 16th 2007 10:16PM]

It isn't like our congress waits for the tax money to roll in before it is spent on government programs. Thank you for spending the alleged 15 billion to be made from this auction before it is even collected so we are limited on what can be done with this chunk of spectrum.

[Mike @ Aug 16th 2007 11:07PM]

Oh man, I'm kinda doped up right now and I thought the headline said "FCC Chairman looking to kill "free internet" porn" and I just about cried.

[Lancelot @ Aug 16th 2007 11:57PM]

Looks like Mr. Kevin Martin is upset that no one offered him enough "under the table" compensation & he's pissed - Seems like all levels of government has less & less concern for those that they represent - We The People..
There are millions of poor people, who have as much a right to the internet as any of us, who can't afford a broadband connection @ its current rates. "M2Z" would
correct this injustice.

Ever wonder how someone can be in office for 10 yrs., make $75,000 per yr. & leave office a Millionaire.?? Mr. Martin is going to make sure he gets his.. Prove me wrong, there's no logical reason for him to take such a stance so early in against "M2Z", other than he wasn't offered a vacation home in Montana.

[Cupofjustice @ Aug 17th 2007 9:37AM]

Woot for montana. I live there!

[ComradeZ @ Aug 17th 2007 1:02AM]

It seems to me that a good compromise would be to set up a "free internet" plan like M2Z is requesting, but instead of giving them the bandwidth, auction off the right to be the provider.

[Ian @ Aug 17th 2007 3:16AM]

A "group known as M2z" sounds like a boy band. It's yet another wimax startup but one that wants spectrum for free. http://www.m2znetworks.com/. Why should they get it for free when others have to buy it?

[StinkyPete @ Aug 17th 2007 9:10AM]

Did anyone look at their proposal? (http://www.m2znetworks.com/xres/uploads/documents/M2ZOne-pageFactSheet.pdf)
The free access would be filtered (child-safe) and advertisement laden. However, it doesn't say how it was filtered. It also doesn't say what is considered indecent.
So if they determine that AdultSwim.com is indecent, I have to pay them to view it?

[Lee @ Aug 17th 2007 9:29AM]

This is the stuff that pisses me off so much. We're a capitalist country, pretty sure that everyone can agree with that. So because it's about the money we can't look at the big picture, where we're losing on the technology field to the rest of the world. Not to mention that this would help spread the internet, etc. etc. the list of arguments for this being good since everyone reading this probably agrees that it would be better than the alternative.

[Convictus @ Aug 20th 2007 6:14PM]

Nice reporting as the other commenter pointed out,

http://www.m2znetworks.com/

Has no interest in the 700mhz spectrum. This has nothing to do with that soap opera.


They want 20mhz from the 2ghz band. 2155-2175 MHz