Has anyone else noticed in the technology section of news websites, that the FCC has agreed to auction off what is now unused wireless spectrum? (resulting from radio waves of TV broadcasting, ect., no longer being used)
Why COULD this be good for the consumer?
Well, when Verizon was granted additional spectrum (700c) by the FCC through auction a year or so ago, it was required by the FCC to not throttle data on that spectrum, and wireless technology lower than LTE to be unlocked for any compatible carrier usage. This is why the Verizon iPhone 5 will work on any GSM (AT&T, Tmobile) network out of the box.
Going forward, the FCC could also mandate that the carriers who obtain the auctioned off bandwidth (which, they will presumably use for LTE networks), will be required to follow the FCC's terms. In other words, the FCC could require data to not be throttled, and even say that it must be unlimited, with devices forcibly being unlocked.
It will be interesting to see the developments of the FCC's spectrum auction, but they could really put their foot down to benefit smaller wireless carriers and the consumer. Because let's face it, at present, Verizon and AT&T have an oligopoly. I can see them, at the very least, similar to the 700c band requirements, banning throttling and forcing carriers to leave their devices unlocked.
Why COULD this be good for the consumer?
Well, when Verizon was granted additional spectrum (700c) by the FCC through auction a year or so ago, it was required by the FCC to not throttle data on that spectrum, and wireless technology lower than LTE to be unlocked for any compatible carrier usage. This is why the Verizon iPhone 5 will work on any GSM (AT&T, Tmobile) network out of the box.
Going forward, the FCC could also mandate that the carriers who obtain the auctioned off bandwidth (which, they will presumably use for LTE networks), will be required to follow the FCC's terms. In other words, the FCC could require data to not be throttled, and even say that it must be unlimited, with devices forcibly being unlocked.
It will be interesting to see the developments of the FCC's spectrum auction, but they could really put their foot down to benefit smaller wireless carriers and the consumer. Because let's face it, at present, Verizon and AT&T have an oligopoly. I can see them, at the very least, similar to the 700c band requirements, banning throttling and forcing carriers to leave their devices unlocked.
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