KG4JYD
03-23-2008, 05:24 PM
The conclusion of the wireless auction has ended with many participants having mixed feelings (http://www.macworld.com/article/132631/2008/03/auction.html). While bigger companies hailed it as a success, including Google who didn't actually bid to win but was able to get open access rules introduced, many smaller companies were left feeling that they were doomed from the start. "A former mail carrier, McBride has been trying his luck at FCC auctions since 1996. He said new rules for the auction favored large companies with deep pockets. For example, the FCC shortened the amount of time that the winners would have to build their networks. "All that did was prevent small businesses from coming in. They were scared of the build-out requirements," he said."
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Large cell service providers won almost all of the licenses (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/verizon-wins-bids-open-spectrum/story.aspx?guid=%7BDE7234BA-A8EC-4108-BDD7-DF54F9355AC8%7D) in the recently concluded FCC spectrum auction. Google didn't get any and won't be entering the wireless business. Verizon Wireless was the big winner, laying out $9.4 billion for enough regional licenses in the "C" block to stitch together nationwide coverage, except for Alaska. On this spectrum Verizon will have to allow subscribers to use any compatible wireless device and run any software application they want. AT&T paid $6.6 billion, Qualcomm picked up a few licenses, and Paul Allen's Vulcan Spectrum LLC won a pair of licenses in the "A" block. One analyst called Google a "happy loser (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/spectrum_auction_verizon_big_winner_google_happy_l oser_)" because it got the openness it had pushed for. The AP's coverage (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jo4wgpBEmdBAEBBUfbGycMzWGw-AD8VHBOS80) does some more of the numbers
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Large cell service providers won almost all of the licenses (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/verizon-wins-bids-open-spectrum/story.aspx?guid=%7BDE7234BA-A8EC-4108-BDD7-DF54F9355AC8%7D) in the recently concluded FCC spectrum auction. Google didn't get any and won't be entering the wireless business. Verizon Wireless was the big winner, laying out $9.4 billion for enough regional licenses in the "C" block to stitch together nationwide coverage, except for Alaska. On this spectrum Verizon will have to allow subscribers to use any compatible wireless device and run any software application they want. AT&T paid $6.6 billion, Qualcomm picked up a few licenses, and Paul Allen's Vulcan Spectrum LLC won a pair of licenses in the "A" block. One analyst called Google a "happy loser (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/spectrum_auction_verizon_big_winner_google_happy_l oser_)" because it got the openness it had pushed for. The AP's coverage (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jo4wgpBEmdBAEBBUfbGycMzWGw-AD8VHBOS80) does some more of the numbers