700MHz

Is Verizon's flip-flop on the 700MHz auction rules for real?

Verizon Wireless says it will go along with proposed Federal Communications Commission rules for the upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction that would require the company to permit subscribers to bring any device to its network.

The company's CEO Lowell McAdam told The Wall Street Journal (registration required) in an article published Thursday that the company is now prepared to accept a set of rules proposed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin that would require winners of certain licenses in the 700MHz auction to allow any legal device to connect to networks using this spectrum.

On the surface, this looks like a … Read more

FCC to vote on 700MHz spectrum auction rules

The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday that it will vote next week on at least some of the rules pertaining to the much anticipated 700MHz spectrum auction.

The FCC's agenda notice said the commission will consider a "Second Report and Order concerning rules governing wireless licenses in the 698-806 MHz band," more commonly known as the 700MHz spectrum band, during its open meeting scheduled for July 31, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. EST.

The new rules, which determine how to divvy up licenses and actually auction them off for the coveted 700MHz wireless band of spectrum, … Read more

Google commits $4.6 billion to wireless-spectrum auction

Google wants to put its money where its mouth is...to the tune of at least $4.6 billion.

The search giant said Friday that it's willing to participate in the Federal Communications Commission's upcoming wireless spectrum 700MHz band auction and pay the minimum reserve of $4.6 billion.

But for Google to participate, there's a catch. It's requiring the FCC to adopt all four of its licensing recommendations, no matter who ultimately wins the bidding process.

Google has also been pressing the FCC to reserve a portion of that spectrum to be used primarily, or … Read more