Media reformers keep pushing for 700 MHz auction changes

MEDIA REFORMERS KEEP PUSHING FOR 700 MHZ AUCTION CHANGES
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
Calling for an end to the "hymns of praise for the status quo," a coalition of media reform groups have filed a 32 page document rebutting incumbent wireless company arguments against fairer FCC auctions in the 700 MHz spectrum band. "The lack of substantive evidence has not stopped incumbents and other special interests from submitting thousands of pages into the record repeating the same unsubstantiated claims in innumerable variations," the Ad Hoc Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC) wrote to the Federal Communications on July 6th, prompting their Ex Parte reply. The FCC will soon sell off spectrum in the 700 MHz band, much of it available thanks to the analog-to-digital television signal transition. Engineers call the 700 MHz band as "beachfront" spectrum, ideal for broadband services, and estimated to be worth billions of dollars. But filers in the FCC's proceeding on how to conduct the auction disagree on rules for the sale. Incumbents like AT&T, Verizon, and other big telcos have filed hundreds of briefs with the FCC resisting proposals that media reform groups say will make either it easier for new entrants to obtain spectrum licenses in the auction or to access affordable spectrum after the sell off.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/428

* Groups offer range of ideas for 700MHz auction
http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20070706/tc_infoworld/90022