Much ink has been spilled to date on the question of whether and how, and under what conditions, Wi-Fi and LTE unlicensed technologies can peacefully co-exist in existing and new unlicensed bands. I don’t propose to add to that growing body of literature. I write instead to endorse a path forward: One that side-steps the…
Read More The Wi-Fi / LTE Unlicensed Debate: A Path ForwardJoan Marsh Posts
When is a Defaulter Not Really a Defaulter? And Other Auction 97 Questions
Last week, the latest chapter of the saga that is Auction 97 unfolded in all its messy, unpredicted and unpredictable glory – Dish and its affiliate DEs surrendered over $3 billion of AWS-3 licenses back to the FCC. Before we get to the selective default, let’s quickly review the bidding to date. First, Dish took…
Read More When is a Defaulter Not Really a Defaulter? And Other Auction 97 QuestionsThe FCC’s Enhanced Transaction Review Standard
Over a year ago, AT&T filed an application seeking to acquire two Lower 700 MHz B Block licenses from Club 42 CM Limited Partnership. AT&T’s ownership of 700 MHz B Block licenses is wholly uncontroversial – we purchased many in the 700 MHz auction and have been enhancing our B block footprint through small deals…
Read More The FCC’s Enhanced Transaction Review StandardGetting the Incentive Auction Right
Today, the FCC cast a series of votes that set the stage for the incentive auction to move toward its slated March 2016 start. The results of the votes, however, are a mixed bag and leave significant wireless industry concerns unanswered. On the one hand, the FCC has finally resolved the protracted debate on the…
Read More Getting the Incentive Auction RightStop the Magenta Madness: A Word on the Spectrum Reserve
We don’t have a slick cartoon full of super heroes and telecom villains. We aren’t generating a raft of identically-worded robo-letters. And we aren’t tweeting apocalyptic rants about the demise of wireless choice. But we do care about the 600 MHz spectrum auction – a lot – and we support the Chairman’s decision to deny…
Read More Stop the Magenta Madness: A Word on the Spectrum ReserveT-Mobile Should Stop Complaining and Start Investing in Rural America
Today, T-Mobile filed a petition to deny a spectrum acquisition by AT&T in three rural cellular market areas (CMAs) in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. The purchase will give AT&T the needed spectrum footprint to deploy up to a 10×10 MHz LTE network in these markets, which will enable AT&T to offer faster and higher…
Read More T-Mobile Should Stop Complaining and Start Investing in Rural AmericaT-Mobile’s Magenta Herring
The ever colorful tweets from T-Mobile CEO John Legere made for interesting reading after his DC tour last week in support of T-Mobile’s quest to expand the 600 MHz spectrum reserve. T-Mobile has long alleged that an expanded reserve is essential to competition in rural America. But, the fact is that the reserve framework will…
Read More T-Mobile’s Magenta HerringOld Whine in New Bottles
A group of competitive carriers led by Sprint and T-Mobile have formed a new coalition but, based on the group’s opening advocacy salvo, I don’t expect much in the way of any new or insightful arguments. For example, they have revived the old myth that AT&T and Verizon were awarded half of their low band…
Read More Old Whine in New BottlesThe White Space Black Hole
In 2008, in the wake of the 700 MHz auction, Google held a conference call to reveal its plans for “Wi-Fi on steroids” – a broadband wireless service to be delivered coast to coast via unlicensed white space devices, all in time for the 2009 Christmas holiday. I remember reading a blog comment around that…
Read More The White Space Black HoleThe Devil is in the Details
On Friday, we filed reply comments on the FCC’s proposed procedures for the 600 MHz incentive auction. This public notice (PN) gets down to the nuts and bolts of how the auction will be run and, in many ways, the decisions made here will be some of the most important to date. When the FCC…
Read More The Devil is in the Details