will transition from analog to digital free up air space?

[cobaltchroma]

when we turn off the antennas forever on TV's next february,
wont that free up some air waves for the cell providers to bid over and launch new networks?
like room for the 4G build.

 

[Julien]

Lots of info is available about who won the spectrum actions but what they do with the bandwidth is another question.

 

[zephead]

The FCC just auctioned off blocks of the 700MHz analog TV spectrums, with Verizon winning a large chunk of it. The FCC mandated that if the bidding goes over a certain price (around $3 billion or so) the winner is mandated to provide open-access to whatever technologically compatible device a consumer has. It did go above the reserve price, so Verizon will have to provide open-access.

 

[cube]

http://www.freetheairwaves.com/

 

[Julien]

The FCC just auctioned off blocks of the 700MHz analog TV spectrums, with Verizon winning a large chunk of it. The FCC mandated that if the bidding goes over a certain price (around $3 billion or so) the winner is mandated to provide open-access to whatever technologically compatible device a consumer has. It did go above the reserve price, so Verizon will have to provide open-access.

Google's brilliant coup de grâce move to have the FCC include this while raising the bid price without having to buy the spectrum.