MuniWireless

The FCC has unveiled the National Broadband Plan whose goal is to ensure every American has access to broadband. The plan addresses broadband competition, reallocating spectrum for mobile broadband, reforming universal service regulations and nudging public schools, health care providers and government agencies to make maximum use of broadband. You can download the National Broadband Plan from the FCC website (PDF).

I read parts of the National Broadband Plan and was impressed by its ambition and scope, but after a few…

Broadband speed tests are nothing new to many readers of this site. Most of us probably use Speedtest.net. But the fact that the FCC has posted a broadband test tool profiled prominently on the Broadband.gov website, shows how politically sensitive broadband — its presence and absence, its cost and speed — has become. It’s getting to be like electricity. If you don’t have it, you might as well be living on another planet.

The FCC’s tool lets you measure download and upload…

Gregory Rose, co-author of the research report The ‘WiMAX Band’ (2.5 GHz): Characteristics, Technology, Major Spectrum Holders in the BRS-EBS Service and Prospects for Auction 86, has posted an article summarizing the winners and losers of the recent FCC auction of spectrum in the “WiMAX Band”. Clearwire got most of the licenses followed by Digital Bridge. Unfortunately 17 licenses got no bidders:

These licenses were overwhelmingly in rural areas, continuing the pattern established by Clearwire and its cableco and telco partners…

The US Broadband Coalition has released its report entitled Expanding and Accelerating the Adoption & Use of Broadband Throughout the Economy (PDF format). The US Broadband Coalition is composed of more than 160 organizations working toward a comprehensive national broadband strategy to ensure America’s success in the emerging knowledge-based global economy. The Coalition includes communications providers of all kinds, high-technology companies, manufacturers, labor unions, educational institutions, utilities, consumer groups, public interest organizations, units of state and local government, and many other stakeholders…

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the winners of Auction 86 (the “WiMAX Band auction”). The auction began on 27 October 2009. Most of the spectrum  in the WiMAX Band (2.5 GHz) was won by Clearwire Spectrum Holdings. Other winning bidders include DigitalBridge, the Vermont Telephone Company and an individual in Hilo, Hawaii named James McCotter. Clearwire is paying $11.1 million for the licenses.

Download now:

(1) FCC’s list of Auction 86 winning bidders (posted on Scribd)

Winners of WiMAX Band Auction…

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society has posted a draft of its independent review for the FCC entitled Next Generation Connectivity: A review of broadband Internet transitions and policy from around the world. Berkman Center invites everyone to read it and participate in the public comment process (see FCC public notice). Among the findings of the report:

“The highest prices for the lowest speeds are overwhelmingly offered by firms in the United States and Canada, all of which inhabit markets…