http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/ Engadget Comments for Up next on the FCC spectrum auction block: 700MHz band http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/

"For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communications..."

15 billion dollars, eh? Not exactly available to 'all' the people of the United States I'd say :P]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/
Freedom to buy doesn't have a thing to do with your means.]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/
But the words 'reasonable charges' appear in that mandate too. Reasonable charges for the consumer using those communication services? That's probably the intent. But those charges might be a bit more 'reasonable' if the service providers didn't pay so much for their spots in the spectrum.]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/



Personally, I NEED some terrestrial internet competition (for gaming). Charter ping times are in the seconds here, and I can't get DSL at all. Living way out in the boonies of suburban St. Louis sucks. Internet was better when I actually lived on a farm. We had DSL and the option of terrestrial wireless from the power company (768kbps max, but that's more than I get from charter).]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/
Blu Ray is a new technology which can fit 2-3 HD DVD's on them (and growing). It’s truly a revolutionary storage medium which goes beyond a format just for movies, but for computer storage as well. Every PC manufacturer should be ecstatic about Blu Ray and the portable storage possibilities unheard of just a year ago.

And Microsoft (x box) is pulling for HD DVD… for what? It seems that HD DVD will end up limiting the size of the game. What will happen when games require >30gigs? Game producers would enjoy designing with highly detailed graphics, large robust worlds, with insane realism, without the constraints of disk space.

HD DVD’s idea was to take a DVD disk and crunch the “grooves” to make a DVD disc handle the new 1080p (and succeeded). But Blu Ray is ready now be able to handle 1080p, AND the new big push for even higher definition. Blu Ray is new technology, it’s better technology. Please wait will get cheaper.
]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/
2) Auctions just seem silly. This forces those who bid on it to be looking to put the most profitable service on it possible, not the best for the country at large.

Why not change the process to a RFP? Take bids and award the spectrum based on the most beneficial use of the spectrum for the general public. By auctioning it off you end up requiring that whatever go there be a pay service. So the govt get another 15 billion to pay off a little debt and my taxes go down by a few dollars a year so I can pay $30/month to Veri-comi-warner for watered down internet service and/or another 300 advertising supported TV channels.
]]>Apr 27th 2007 1:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 1:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 27th 2007 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Within in the next 6-10 years the broadcasters will find the customers demanding HD broadcasts and find that the frequencies they once had that could cope with the bandwidth are no longer available.]]>Apr 27th 2007 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/Apr 28th 2007 1:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/up-next-on-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-block-700mhz-band/
I hate how the FCC thinks they have the right to "auction off" radio frequencies like they own them or somthing. I know it's a question as to who owns the radio frequencies before they are allocated, but I don't think the FCC does. Maybe they should distribute the money evenly as tax credits to american citizens? I mean, we're the ones that have to deal with all the RFI and the potiental health problems, etc. Just an Idea.

Ian]]>Apr 28th 2007 9:44PM