Open frequencies to be auctioned for broadband use | 04.25.2007 | 06:47:39 | Views: 5155 | ID: April 25 '07: CNET reported that the Federal Communications Commission will announce rules for a new spectrum auction soon so that guidelines can be issued to help rural locales, and small businesses gain access to the available broadband spectrum. The spectrum's availability comes as the federal government moves television from analogue into digital. The FCC will begin to auction off the 700MHz spectrum to private sector organizations and state and local governments to create large-capacity broadband networks which could help provide a foundation for a national interoperable communications system for first responders. Government officials said one of the benefits to selling the spectrum was the money which could made by the federal government - almost $15 billion according to some estimates. However, there are concerns that much of the frequencies in the spectrum will be bought by large telecoms, thus the necessity for the FCC to issue the proper auction rules to help spur "some dynamic innovation," CNET quoted Harold Feld, senior vice president for Media Access Project, a "nonprofit law firm representing a coalition of public interest groups before the FCC." Already, 24MHz has been set aside for public emergency response and safety operations. The auction's date, which has not been set, will see about 60MHz being presented for sale. Feld told CNET that there could be future moves to set aside at least 10 MHz for "companies interested in building a nationwide infrastructure to support a broadband network for public safety agencies."
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