RFSTUF

FCC Chairman Drafts Auction Proposal By Teresa von Fuchs WirelessWeek - July 10, 2007 According to reports from the Dow Jones newswires and USA Today, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has completed a draft of the proposed rules governing the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction. And according to an interview with USA Today, he has included a hotly debated open access clause. Martin told USA Today, "Whoever wins this spectrum has to provide ... truly open broadband network - one that will open the door to a lot of innovative services for consumers."... The report did say that Martin had included a 10 MHz of nationally licensed spectrum that sits adjacent to spectrum set aside for public safety agencies. But that many of Frontline's clauses for this spectrum were left out, possibly making it less likely the startup will participate in the bidding... The rules around this chunk of spectrum require the winning bidder to work with public safety agencies to create a network for the country's first responders. However, the licensee will be able to charge public safety agencies for access to the network...