Having successfully completed the much-publicized 700-MHz wireless spectrum auction, the Federal Communications Commission is now planning its next auctions.

According to a story in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal, one of those plans includes a free wireless Web. The winner of the auction for those frequencies would manufacture broadband wireless Web available to most of the U.S. Although details of the plan have not been worked out, there are reports that the FCC plan would mandate that the frequencies could not transmit everything the wildly diverse Web could offer, such as pornography.

The D Block

Another plan for a new auction would be directed at getting a winning bid for the D Block. That group of frequencies was not sold at the last auction, as the minimum bid of $1.3 billion was not reached. Under FCC rules, the buyer would need to allow part of the spectrum to be used by public-safety agencies.

As a run-up to

the D-Block reauction, the FCC has been taking comments from industry, public safety, and academics on how the rules for the D Block might be revised to attract higher bids. According to news reports, many public-safety groups, such as the organization of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International and the National Emergency Number organization, as well as some members of Congress are suggesting that the FCC keep the same public-private partnership as previously called for.

that requirement seeks to guarantee that broadband communications within government agencies have national coverage and interoperability by requiring the commercial operator to produce the frequencies available in the event of emergencies.

‘Doesn’t Seem Realistic’

Some observers are suggesting that the D-Block price was too high, while others are suggesting that the private-public partnership requirements were not clearly defined. Bill Ho, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the basic issue needs to be addressed — that bidders…

Orginal post by Mike

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