FCC: Nice Ideas, Google — But We Don’t Like All Of Them

FCC shuns Google plans for open mobile network from Computer Business Review reports that US Federal Communications Commission chair Kevin Martin likes Google’s wireless spectrum bid proposal but is not a fan of all of Google’s requirements. Google said they would bid $4.6 billion on the wireless spectrum, if the FCC would comply with all […]

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FCC shuns Google plans for open mobile network from Computer Business Review reports that US Federal Communications Commission chair Kevin Martin likes Google’s wireless spectrum bid proposal but is not a fan of all of Google’s requirements.

Google said they would bid $4.6 billion on the wireless spectrum, if the FCC would comply with all of their requirements. It looks like the FCC is unlikely to comply fully because Google’s proposal is likely to discourage companies from bidding on the airwaves.


The FCC is worried that companies like Verizon and AT&T won’t bid on the spectrum because Google’s proposal requires licensees to lease their networks to wireless service providers. It seems like Verizon and AT&T would only bid on the spectrum if they can “sit on it” and not use it. Obviously, this goes completely against Google’s point of opening up the wireless spectrum.

The big question is, will Google still bid on the spectrum, if the FCC does not agree to all their terms?


About the author

Barry Schwartz
Staff
Barry Schwartz is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry can be followed on Twitter here.

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