FCC Considering Plan for Free Nationwide Wi-Fi

Switched ^ | May 31, 2008 | Blake Besharian

[2ndDivisionVet]

As the FCC auctions off an unused spectrum of airwaves, the winner may be forced to provide free wireless internet for most of the country. No date or terms for the auction have been set, but the government's deal requires that free service on the 25 MHz spectrum reaches at least half the in five years and 95 percent within ten years. The agreement, proposed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin, also stipulates that the bidder must filter out obscene content for allowing the winner to use the remaining portion of the spectrum for commercial purposes.

"We're hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal; and because this will provide wireless broadband services to more Americans, it is certainly something we want to see," said FCC spokesman Rob Kenny.

CTIA, the principal trade group for wireless companies, is unenthusiastic about the proposal, taking issue with the provision that the service must be free. Prior to this proposal, there has been little interest in this portion of the spectrum, as wireless carriers preferred the 700MHz airwaves auctioned a few months ago.

A startup company called M2Z previously asked to use the airwaves for free, providing free wireless with a content filter and garnering revenue from advertising that would be shared with the government. The FCC turned M2Z down, saying the company needed to bid against other carriers, but Martin's proposal is very similar. The next step is a June 12th meeting where more details are expected to be hammered out. [Source: AP Business and Yahoo! News]

[2ndDivisionVet]

"...why not throw in free cell phones and laptops?"

Already being done: Back in 2006, I was working at the Texas Workforce Center as a supervisor. We were handing out FREE: laptops w/deluxe software, ISP service, cellphones, gas cards, bus passes, career counseling, daycare, food stamps, Section 8 rent, welfare payments and on and on...

[JerseyHighlander]

Information flows are to be shackled, or there will be no information flows to the public.

That is the proposition.

[dk88]

So to make it a little more clear for the less informed. To use this Free Wi-Fi your laptop would need a 6 foot whip antenna attached to it. It would take you about 2 hours to down load a 5 minute video because all of the radio interference would cause errors in the data transfer. It may be free but it would make dial-up look great. This was tried in Portland -- free! free! -- went online last fall. Lasted until May of this year. They'll never learn.

[big'ol_freeper]

Hmmmm

[Righter-than-Rush]

>>nationalized airwaves... communist manifesto here we come.>>

Yep, just one step closer to losing more privacy. So THIS is how they want to hook everyone into the system. This and a biochip for tracking. Watch, the clueless will applaud this as a watershed event. They’re right, but wrong on the direction.

[Mark was here]

I suppose the electric utilities will give the electricity to run it away for free, their workers will take less pay, the coal companies won’t charge the utilities for the needed coal, the miners will dig it for free, and the railroads will ship it for free.

[wolfcreek]

“also stipulates that the bidder must filter out obscene content”

DOH!!!

[tet68]

To use this Free Wi-Fi your laptop would need a 6 foot whip antenna attached to it.

And you’d have to preface any replies with “Breaker Breaker one nine.”

Keep the shiney side up and the greasy side down...

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

This seems like something that government should stay out of.

[tet68]

Attention! Attention!
We interrupt this WiFi broadcast to test the National Emergency Network as specified by USC 12 42 part B and C.
Your THERE! Watching Porn, please report to your nearest
WiFi Monitor at once .

Etc, etc, etc.

[NVDave]

The reporter, as with most of them, doesn’t know his buttocks from a warm rock.

Here’s the actual facts:

The FCC auctioned off a 62 Mhz-wide chunk of spectrum in the 700Mhz region recently, and generated over $20 billion in bids in aggregate, well above pre-auction estimates of how much wireless companies would bid for this post-UHF-TV use of the spectrum.

Now, sort of as a result (ie, the FCC smells money in that there ether!), the FCC is considering an auction of a 25-MHz wide chunk of the AWS-III band, which is 2155 to 2180Mhz, which would provide for wi-fi-like broadband, just in a slightly longer wavelength than the 2.4Ghz (2,400Mhz) band currently in use.

Now, for where the “free and family-friendly” nonsense comes in: there is a thoroughly dopey proposal out there in Congress, championed by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) to made the carrier winning the bid on these AWS-III brand auction to provide free, “family friendly” wireless access, with a minimum level of service of 200kB/sec download speeds.

This, of course, represents a complete fantasy on the parts of the sponsors of this goofy bill.

[Mark was here]

Concerning the “auction” baloney. The amount paid in the auctions will be paid by the customers using the frequencies, as a hidden tax. Once the FCC is “paid” off the tax will continue as a nice profit center for the lease holders. This will happen until their lease is put back on the block for further taxation. Some how I think the consumers would be better off, with out the taxation.

[DoingTheFrenchMistake]

"The agreement, proposed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin, also stipulates that the bidder must filter out obscene content for allowing the winner to use the remaining portion of the spectrum for commercial purposes."

OK, just what is obscene content, sez who?

[Left2Right]

...the winner may be forced to provide free wireless internet for most of the country..."We're hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal...", said FCC spokesman Rob Kenny.:

DOA, imho....

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Umm...No.

TANSTAFFL.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Er, one too few A’s. one too many F’s.

That should be TANSTAAFL

[hawkboy]

Lefty wants free stuff!

[Jet Jaguar]

No thanks; as much as I pay now, I’ll keep paying. It’s far cheaper than the government providing it for free.

Well put.

[dan1123]

Now, sort of as a result (ie, the FCC smells money in that there ether!), the FCC is considering an auction of a 25-MHz wide chunk of the AWS-III band, which is 2155 to 2180Mhz, which would provide for wi-fi-like broadband, just in a slightly longer wavelength than the 2.4Ghz (2,400Mhz) band currently in use.

Thank you for clearing it up. I had already seen this on Slashdot the other day and was looking for someone to fix all the miserable reporting errors.

Now, for where the “free and family-friendly” nonsense comes in: there is a thoroughly dopey proposal out there in Congress, championed by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) to made the carrier winning the bid on these AWS-III brand auction to provide free, “family friendly” wireless access, with a minimum level of service of 200kB/sec download speeds.

This, of course, represents a complete fantasy on the parts of the sponsors of this goofy bill.

I don't think it's fantasy, and it's not without precedent. Network television is subject to decency regulations for what goes over their public airwaves, and having an advertiser-supported public digital network is a fairly similar circumstance. Also, owning that spectrum means big $$$ with zero content investment, so decency hurdles, especially since they will probably be web-only and the tech is pretty well-established, are probably barely a factor for whoever wins.

[MediaMole]

The obsession with free internet is bizarre. If someone can’t afford the $10-15 per month for basic internet service, how can they afford a laptop with wifi?

Oh, wait... Think like a liberal. Once there is free wifi, there will be a call for free computers for all the people who can’t access the free wifi.