Business

Google's desire to change the telecom market hit the FCC refusal
by Corina Ciubotaru

Spectrum auctions aren't something new to the US; they've been carried out since 1994. Rather than choosing which company gets the most wavelength to broadcast over by conducting hearings or by lotteries, the Federal Communications Commission or FCC in the United States of America organizes auctions. The form they use is Form 175 and any company or individual can become a bidder if they complete and submit this form and then pay the upfront payment. This allows the bidder to bid on a certain number of licenses in any given round, depending on the amount he paid upfront. Every stage of the auction, including submitting the form and placing the bid is carried out over the Internet and the FCC even provides an upfront payment calculator for the interested bidders. Compared to older systems, the auctions allow ownership to take place sooner, within a year from the auction itself. The big auction everyone expects now is a 700MHz spectrum auction in January, where Google had promised to pay the $4.6 billion upfront payment if the FCC agreed to change the rules as the search engine company and other organizations required. The group of organizations wanted four changes to be made which would open up the telecom industry to other interested companies and disrupt, if not end, AT&T and Verizon's oligopoly on the market. The FCC only agreed to change two of the rules and make the change applicable to only 22MHz of spectrum so it is unsure if Google will agree to take part in the auction any further.

related story: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2180375.ece

by Corina Ciubotaru for SigEx Telecom (http://sigex.com)

SigEx Telecom is quickly becoming the leading telebroadcasting communications provider allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share video clips through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, websites, blogs, video-mails and SMS. SigEx Telecom captures many add-on services for its clients generating royalties and fees in a broad spectrum of marketing services including public relations and promotions.

posted by Blog TechSource @ 1:06 PM