Birds fly, grass grows, and the FCC auctions off wireless spectrum. It's just one of those inevitable facts of life. In 2008, the Commission sure sold plenty of the stuff, with both
AT&T and
Verizon trading billions of dollars for enough building-penetrating
700MHz bandwidth to start LTE networks (that's 4G, vaquero!) as early as
next year. One huge chunk of spectrum didn't sell, however: the infamous Block 'D,' subject to a unique FCC mandate that required it to be shared with first responders and government agencies for public safety.
Last we heard, 'D' was in limbo awaiting a new auction, but
Reuters reports that said wait may be nearly over. According to Jamie Barnett, the FCC's Chief of Public Safety, the entity could test the waters as early as this summer, and start
Auction 76 in earnest by Q1 or Q2 of 2011. Who might bid at that late date is still uncertain -- would-be 4G competitors will be way behind Verizon and AT&T by that time -- but it seems a mighty fine idea for paramedic phones to work while buried under rubble, regardless.
posted March 22nd 2010 7:24AM
I can't stop giggle at the eBay photoshop job :-)
@Cesar Cardoso hehe yeah, nice work engadget :P
@Cesar Cardoso So no matter what you bid for it, some jerk will just come in and snipe it for a dollar more at the last second and then have the gall to contact you three days later and try to sell it to you for five dollars more than he paid. Well screw him. I hope that portion of 700MHz bandwidth rots in his garage forever. Bastard.
Transport for London needs this so I can use my phone on the Underground on way to work. Wonder how many thousands of £ are lost due to the lack of reception in those tunnels.
@Ignition1 none. You still pay your monthly bill, right?
@Brent1700 I meant for businesses. You know how you can calculate how much a snow-day might cost the country etc. The same rule would apply to not being able to use your phone for 30 minutes or more.
The FCC should limit the auction to players that don't already have huge amounts of premium spectrum (AT&T and Verizon). Otherwise, the cellular industry make come down to two players, and a lack of competition rarely bodes well for consumers.
And brother... I hurt people
BOINK!
Dear Google,
Please take part in this auction and play to win.
Sincerely,
We the Internets.
K. Luv u. Thx. Bai
"(that's 4G, vaquero!)"
Thanks, ese!