New FCC auction would offer free wireless
updated 09:00 pm EDT, Fri May 23, 2008
FCC considers auction
After the recent auctioning of the 700MHz wireless band, the FCC has revealed that it is considering another auction for the 2155 to 2180MHz band, which would require the winning party to offer free wireless broadband services as part of an aggressive build-out schedule. RCR Wireless News writes that the band – which is referred to as AWS III – would require free access, and the capacity to reach 50-percent of the US population in four years, and 95-percent by the end of the license term.
"We’ve had a variety of proposals that had come into the commission originally where some people wanted us to give them the spectrum," said Kevin Martin, Chairman for the FCC.
The vote could be held at the FCC's meeting on June 12th, but it is unsure if the auction would take place later this year, or if it would impede the auction of the 700MHz D block, which was not awarded since no one met the reserve price for $1.3 billion.
