Start-Ups Prep for Wireless Auction

START-UPS PREP FOR WIRELESS AUCTION
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Kim Hart]
As Google and other major companies line up to participate in an auction of coveted airwaves for high-speed wireless, smaller firms are waiting in the wings for their piece of the action. Two lesser-known local start-ups -- Frontline Wireless and Cyren Call -- are positioning themselves to help build a network to be shared with public safety agencies. Companies planning to participate in next year's auction, which is expected to raise about $15 billion for the government, must file their application to the Federal Communications Commission by today. At stake is the last big swath of radio spectrum available for the foreseeable future, key to many companies' plans to offer new mobile Internet features. Under the auction's terms, a certain portion of the airwaves sold must be available for emergency use. Frontline's goal is to build a national network for emergency responders and lease excess capacity to other carriers in order to sell speedy Internet service to consumers. Cyren Call is advising public safety agencies as they negotiate with companies, including Frontline, that are interested in bidding on the spectrum. If it wins, Frontline would work closely with Cyren Call to hammer out the details of building the network. The FCC boosted Frontline's chances of success when it changed the rules two weeks ago to allow the company to resell wireless service to other companies, rather than having to sell directly to consumers. This would be cheaper for Frontline because it would not have to set up stores and market the services. The company would also get a 25 percent discount on its bid because it is considered a small business.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/02/AR200712...
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