This upcoming Monday, Google will be filing their application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to participate in the 700-megahertz spectrum auction.  Google winning this auction could result in huge changes and benefits for technological advancement in the United States.

In the past, Google has promised that the company intended on bidding for the 700-megahertz spectrum.  It appears that the company is living up on that promise with the announcement of their intent to register for bidding on the spectrum with the FCC.

The bidding process is scheduled to begin on the 24th of January, 2008.  Telecommunication giants like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and others are likely to be bidding on the spectrum.  The entire process will take months to sort out after the start of the bidding.

The winning companies of the spectrum are mandated to give consumers the right to use any capable device on their network, and also allow those consumers to use any software they choose to run on those devices.  This is a huge step forward, and the US government should be applauded for taking action to properly expand and improve a technologically backwards America with regards internet services.

A company like Google could create a nationwide wireless network that can compete with existing digital subscriber line and cable internet services.  The telecommunication giants are well aware of this, and those companies are likely to be secretly determined to prevent this from happening by outbidding Google in the upcoming auctions.

It is a general rule that competition is a good thing.  Google winning these auctions could be one of the best possible results for the advancement of internet, wireless, and mobile technologies in the states.  Not only expanding coverage that existing companies fail to offer, but also decreasing the price of internet and mobile services.

[Source: The New York Times]

Update 1: 11-30-2007 @ 10:32 PM

Google made an entry in their blog about their involvement of the 700-MHz spectrum auction.