wireless
NBP: inside the FCC’s spectrum revolution (and its problems)
In the months preceding the release of the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan , the agency made clear that it wants to broker a huge transfer of licensed spectrum away from the television broadcasting sector and toward the wireless phone/broadband industry. FCC Chair Julius Genachowski has long called for 500MHz of bandwidth to be found in the TV bands and elsewhere, then moved to the wireless sector over the next decade. In fact, the NBP calls for freeing up 300MHz starting just below the UHF zone (300MHz to 3GHz) to be made “newly available for mobile use within five years.” On top of that, the Plan wants to open up 20MHz of licensed space in the little-known 2.3GHz Wireless Communications Service (WCS) band for mobile broadband use.
Continue reading »Verizon: metered billing much fairer than all-you-can-eat
Verizon Wireless’ top engineer, Dick Lynch, was at it again during CES, setting the stage for a world in which Verizon moves away from flat-rate pricing and adopts metered billing instead. Lynch, a staple on the conference circuit, has made such comments for some time, and they regularly draw a negative reaction from consumers. But to Lynch, it’s a matter of fairness—and a response to a newly “open” wireless world.
Continue reading »Government skeptical wireless can open up broadband market
Earlier this week we wrote up a Department of Justice brief urging the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate as much spectrum as possible for the wireless industry. Wireless, the DOJ says, is the best chance we’ve got at creating a more competitive broadband landscape. “Given the potential of wireless services to reach underserved areas and to provide an alternative to wireline broadband providers in other areas, the Commission’s primary tool for promoting broadband competition should be freeing up spectrum,” the DOJ told the FCC on Monday.
Continue reading »Verizon: $350 ETFs are a good thing, and they help the poor
Verizon Wireless has replied to the Federal Communications Commission’s letter of inquiry about its super-sized early termination fees for smart phones. The bottom line: $350 ETFs are good and good for you. “This pricing structure enables Verizon Wireless to offer wireless devices at a substantial discount from their full retail price,” the telco’s 13-page statement (with 64 pages of documents) explains.
Continue reading »Cable and Wireless borrows big to finance split
Bye then Cable and Wireless has today settled on the details of its long-planned split, which has been delayed by the recession.…
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