RCR Wireless News

As such, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Free Press, Media Access Project, New America Foundation, Public Knowledge and US PIRG urged the FCC to initiate a rulemaking with an eye to prohibiting such handset exclusivity arrangements ...

At a post-election think tank forum on Nov. 6, New America Foundation Senior Fellow Steve Clemons warned of dire challenges ahead for the next Administration despite the enthusiasm of Obama’s supporters. “We’ve come from the Housing Bubble to the Obama Bubble,” Clemons said. “Something or someone is going to pop that bubble. Until the world begins to see priorities defined and actions taken, the world is not going to believe it.” LINK

Proponents of making fallow TV frequencies available for Wi-Fi include Google Inc., Motorola Inc., Microsoft Corp., Phillips Electronics and other high-tech companies large and small. The New America Foundation, a think tank, also has been an influential voice in pushing for unlicensed wireless operations in TV white spaces. LINK

RCR Wireless News | State's Role in Consumer Protection Bill Pondered

. . . "Allowing consumers to purchase unsubsidized handsets without a long-term wireless service plan, and at a fee no higher than subsidized wireless plans, would begin to knock down those obstacles and promote increased consumer freedom in the wireless market," said Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at the New America Foundation. . .

700 MHz auction rings up $2.4B in first-round bids (RCRNews.com)

“An unfortunate combination of tight credit markets and bad policy choices is likely to result in the biggest incumbent wireless carriers acquiring the lion’s share of licenses in today’s big auction of TV band airwaves,” said Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program and VP at the New America Foundation. “The FCC imposed multi-billion reserve [minimum] prices on the spectrum, which will shut out all but the biggest… more

The Federal Communications Commission appeared poised to reject M2Z Networks Inc.’s plan to offer free nationwide broadband service on the 2155-2175 MHz band, a move likely to prompt a court challenge and refocus the campaign to integrate open access-wholesale requirements in the wireless space.

Once the anticipated dismissal of M2Z’s application happens, the FCC is expected to launch a rulemaking to determine what to do with the 2155-2175 MHz band. The two Democrats on the Republican-controlled FCC were expected to… more

A broad-based mix of high-tech, consumer, civil rights, educational and Hispanic interests urged Congress to ensure that vacant TV airwaves are freed up for unlicensed wireless broadband as soon as possible.“Allocating the TV white spaces for unlicensed use will stimulate the development of innovative devices, enable more economical broadband deployment in rural and other underserved areas, and ensure the efficient utilization of unused ‘beach front’ spectrum below 1 GHz,” stated the coalition in a congressional letter released by… more

The Department of Justice’s internal watchdog revealed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, overseer of a Bush administration plan to foster improved spectrum use by federal agencies, state governments and private-sector firms, granted more than 23,000 waivers over two years to allow law enforcement officials to continue operating wireless systems in a less efficient manner than mandated by NTIA in 1993. The finding is included in a new DoJ inspector general’s report that warns plans to deploy a… more

WASHINGTON -- Nearly two years after President Bush authorized the creation of an advisory committee as part of spectrum policy initiative launched in 2003, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has yet to disclose identities of members, whether any meetings have been held or explain what progress has been made on White House-driven spectrum program that from the beginning has been shrouded in secrecy and yielded few tangible results to date....

One think-tank scholar said NTIA's handling of the advisory committee… more