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FCC turns down M2Z's free WiFi proposal
Not that it comes as much of a surprise, but the FCC today rejected upstart M2Z's request for a 20MHz slice of the 2155MHz to 2175MHz spectrum, which it had hoped to use for a free, nearly nationwide WiFi service. To that end, M2Z was trying to convince the FCC to bypass its usual proceedings and hand over the spectrum to it for free. In exchange, as Ars Technica reports, M2Z promised to pay five percent of its gross revenues to the US Treasury each year and, as an added touch, it also promised to filter any "objectionable content" crossing those free airwaves. Apparently keen on that idea, a number of other companies tried to get in on the action as well, but were likewise turned down by the FCC. For its part, the FCC now seems intent on proceeding as usual with the spectrum, with Chairman Kevin Martin saying he'll consider both licensed and unlicensed uses for the band, adding that he promises to "adopt flexible rules that will encourage the innovative use of this unique piece of spectrum."[Via AHN]
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.
M2Z Networks pitches free national wireless broadband to FCC
It might be a bit far-fetched, but M2Z Networks is offering an interesting deal to the FCC in exchange for a bit of that high priced spectrum that's about to be auctioned off. The plan is to provide free ad-supported national 512Kbps wireless broadband, along with a premium service, using the spectrum in the 2155-2175MHz band. In exchange for the spectrum use, M2Z would give the FCC five percent of their gross revenues. We wouldn't think the FCC would ditch their normal auction method for just any hair brained scheme, but M2Z was started by former FCC wireless head John Muleta and @Home founder Milo Medin, and claims to have access to $400 million in capital. Free national wireless broadband is also surely in the public's interest, so this just might work after all.[Via WNN]
