Broadband Reports notes that Frontline Wireless, one of several outfits eager to build a national wireless emergency broadband network with 700 MHz spectrum, has challenged Verizon to debate before the FCC (PDF).
The FCC needs to auction a tiny slice—just a sixth—of the last block of airwaves set for auction after more than a decade of sales of the public’s airwaves. Verizon wants to buy it all, warehousing and not using it, but denying it to competition.
Frontline wants to buy enough to build a national network for public safety and use that same network for Verizon’s local and regional competitors to have national coverage. Verizon says the federal government should pay billions for a public-safety network; Frontline says consumers of its network will fund the public-safety portion of the network, saving taxpayers billions and saving who knows how many lives.
Frontline claims Verizon is paying think tanks and other PR groups to fight for them on behalf of “consumers.”
FreedomWorks, AT&T’s astroturf organization, says markets, not the FCC, should pick winners and losers. FreedomWorks is chaired by former House majority leader Dick Armey (R-Texas).
Meantime, CTIA, the national association representing the mobile-phone industry, accused Frontline of mischaracterizing the wireless marketplace, declaring that carriers “do not, and cannot as a practical matter, warehouse spectrum as Frontline alleges.”
According to GigOm’s Kapustka:
There wasn’t much public safety backing of Frontline in the beginning. Slowly, though, public safety types seem to be climbing aboard, with some cautious agency backing and support from infrastructure contractors like Northrop Grumman adding to Frontline’s arsenal. “If they get public safety on their side, they’re in,” said one D.C. insider. “If not, they’re out.”
The Google team initially spawned confusion with a separate 700 MHz plan for dynamically auctionable airwaves, but are now also solidly on board behind Frontline’s plan.
Related 700MHz articles include; Adelstein: Open Access for 700MHz, Supernova Shout Match, June Hearings on 700MHz, NXTcomm 2007, Broadcasters: Portable Devices Kill DTV, FCC: Beltway Vs Valley, 700Mz Support for “Open Access” Grows, Apple Developers Conference, 700MHz Battle Begins, AT&T “Open” to 700MHz — Not, General Dynamics Wins IWN Contract, Martin: Sharing is Good, Harold Feld on 700MHz, FCC Indecisive on 700MHz, FCC Decides on 700MHz Rules Today, Small Ops Squeezed Out of 700MHz?, General Dynamics Wins IWN Contract, AT&T, Verizon & Qwest Share $50B Contract, Networx: $50B Phone Contract Due, Consumers to FCC: 700MHz Democracy Now!, Civil War in 4G, Nextwave Buys IP-Wireless, FCC Firming Up 700MHz Rules?, Verizon’s $6B Smackdown, Alcatel Does EVDO in DC 700 MHz Net, Frontline’s 700MHz Pitch: Sharing is Good, Tom Ridge: Answer Cyren Call, Verizon Makes its Move for Universal Service Fund, Nextwave Buys IP-Wireless, Consumers to FCC: 700MHz Democracy Now!, Frontline Files 700MHz Plan with FCC, 700MHz in 10 Steps, National Broadband: Fee & Free, FCC to Rural Users: 700MHz is the Ticket and Oregon’s $500 Million Statewide Wireless Network.
