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Preston Gralla's picture
Preston Gralla

Seeing Through Windows

FCC: U.S. doesn't need free wireless broadband

The FCC once again is siding with big telcos at the expense of consumers. This time around, it killed a plan that would offer free wireless broadband to 95% of the U.S., making use of a piece of the wireless spectrum that's unused. Are you surprised?

M2Z networks has been asking the FCC for months to approve an innovative plan that would bring wireless broadband to just about every consumer in the U.S. M2Z wants to use 20MHz of unused spectrum in the 2GHz band to build two nationwide wireless networks -- a free one with 384kbps download speeds, and a for-pay one with 3Mbps speed that would cost between $20 and $30 a month.

The deal would work like this: M2Z would offer the free service in exchange for use of the spectrum, which right now lies idle. The company would pay the U.S. 5% of its revenues in return for use of the spectrum.

The plan is no pipe dream from a flaky startup. The company is founded and headed by John Muleta, who is the former chief of the FCC's wireless bureau.

It certainly seems like a deal in which everyone wins. Everyone gets free 384kbps wireless access, and can upgrade to higher speeds. The U.S. government gets more revenue.

So why did the FCC put the kibosh on it? Because big telcos told them to. The spectrum was used previouly by big telcos for microwave connections, but is no longer needed, so it lays idle. Even though big telcos aren't using the spectrum, they'd like to keep squatting on it, in case they come up with a use for it. So the FCC lets them keep it.

Expect to see a lawsuit about this one, and hope that M2Z wins.

What People Are Saying

People like Chuck definately

People like Chuck definately work for global nega cueos and believe in the complete domination and exploitation of the masses; beginning to look like communism, where the govermment try to feed its people bullbonk. Chuck should move to Russia or China were the government makes rhe decisions for him.

Chuck ... have a little

Chuck ... have a little faith in American ingenuity. Broadcast TV, FM Radio, Netscape, Yahoo, and Google are all free services that people never would have thought possible before their respective times. There's an easy solution to your concern -- the FCC simply makes a "free" service a required condition to granting M2Z a license. And so if M2Z delivers, consumers benefit. If they don't, the FCC yanks the license and the "rat" dies.

This is a scam. Anyone who

This is a scam. Anyone who takes a second to consider the total number of access points required to provide the service nationwide and the network required to support it, and figures the cost would know that this is well outside the realm of reality. In addition, the 20 MHz of spectrum is inadequate for such ubiquitous coverage with any reasonable user bandwidth expectations. Lastly, all one needs to do is to look at the areas that have engaged in large-scale ubiquitous coverage arrangements with "free access" to see that even county-wide projects invariably do not meet even a small percentage of expectation. In other words, I smell a rat.

In my opinion Chris is

In my opinion Chris is missing the point. M2Z is aiming to provide access to the internet for FREE to the consumer. This means poor kids in rural and urban areas get access to internet at similar speeds to my kids and can eventually get the same kind of jobs. If you are only considering the "rights" of companies, maybe Chris has a point. But what about considering the needs of people?

The truth is that free

The truth is that free spectrum is already available for wireless broadband providers in the 900Mhz, 2.4Ghz, 5.3Ghz and 5.8Ghz bands. Hundreds of small companies are using these bands to provide broadband access in rural America. I would think that everyone of these company would consider providing free, 384K download service in trade for interference free spectrum that the FCC can auction for millions of dollars. Why should M2Z be given preferential treatment.

We have to stand up against

We have to stand up against this. Please sign my petition at freewifijackson.com.

I wrote a letter to the FCC

I wrote a letter to the FCC in the spring supporting M2Z's new network plan and the FCC totally blew it off. None of the thousands of consumer comments were considered. Free broadband across the country is too hard for them but they will jump over backwards for the big companies. At least now we know who they are working for.

This it outrageous!! How on

This it outrageous!!
How on earth can they put restrictions on something like this. This is a great leap of our time.

I sent a letter to the

I sent a letter to the chairmen of both major political parties concerning what they have to do to get my vote. It stated that I wanted to see evidence that these politicians were working for the benefit of their constituents and the country rather than for lobbyists.

Basically, my vote will go against the incumbent if there is not clear evidence that the incumbent is working for the country and the voter, not for the lobbyists.

This story is a matter of lobbyist support against the individual voter.

Please join me and send your letters.