The 700MHz auction has been receiving an amazing amount of coverage in the press lately.  That is warranted because this auction will affect the future of wireless internet and wireless services for all of us.  Some companies have the power to influence all telecommunication, cable, and internet providers.  Unquestionably, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the path that wireless services travel.

The auction will take place on January 24th, 2008, and 214 total bidders of the 266 initial applicants will be fighting it out for wireless spectrum.  You have the big telecommunication companies, which are going to be bidding hard, but you also have smaller companies that will be bidding on blocks as well.

I am sure that some of you have seen the commercial in which they explain that people are pretty much going to be screwed in February 2009 if you still use an antenna to watch television.  All the news is about the 700Mhz spectrum auction.  That vacated portion of the spectrum is exactly what is being auctioned off.

Many people do not understand the true impact that this auction will have.  Let's say that there is a person who lives in a neighborhood where there is only one provider of internet services, and the ISP is charging very high prices for the services.  This auction might give smaller but able competition the chance to offer the same person those services for cheaper.  It is all about creating competition.

The auction has been split off into five separate blocks.  The A, B, and E blocks will be valuable to smaller companies which will be offering services in regional areas.  The C and D blocks will draw much more of a crowd because these allow a nationwide network, and the likes of Google, Verizon, and AT&T will be pouncing on those.

Essentially, this is an important time in shaping the future of wireless services.  While larger companies like Google could shake up all the telecommunication companies, smaller companies can get their legs in the door to be competitive.  I hope that this brings lower prices and competitiveness to all potential customers.

[Source: Ars Technica]

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.