FCC Gets Earful About Wireless Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) was bombarded today pleas to keep a tight reign on the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction to prevent phone and cable companies from expanding their grip on Internet access in the wireless realm.

The 700MHz spectrum is considered to be perfect for wireless broadband services, and, like with television signals, is capable of penetrating walls. Using that spectrum for broadband, according to supporters, would greatly expand Internet access in the US, which is currently not in the top ten on world broadband penetration lists.

That's because, they would argue, the telecommunications industry has self-regulated

2. Ensure open networks (Wireless Net Neutrality). The FCC should guard against auction winners playing "gatekeeper" over which websites customers can access – currently in practice with mobile phones.

3. Not allow auction winner to "blacklist" new technology from entering the market, so consumers can attach any safe device to their own device – much the same way telephone companies were required to let customers attach answering machines to their landlines (modems, too, later).

4. Make at least half of the auctioned airwaves licensed on an "open access" basis, ensuring competitors could enter the market for a fair market rate.

“We need more competition and innovation, not more of the same,” said Michael Kieschnick, president of Working Assets Wireless, which has offered to buy out cell phone contracts from customers angry with AT&T and Verizon.

“America will continue to fall behind the rest of the world as long as we let these network giants dictate the terms of access for the majority of Americans.”

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