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Big cell would love to quash free wireless broadband upstart

M2Z Networks would like to acquire 20MHz of free spectrum in the from the FCC in order to offer free wireless broadband to 95 percent of U.S.
Written by Russell Shaw, Contributor

M2Z Networks would like to acquire 20MHz of free spectrum in the from the FCC in order to offer free wireless broadband to 95 percent of U.S. residents within ten years.

The FCC isn't too keen on the idea. Fifteen months on now, and tick tock. Now, M2Z is threatening to sue.

"We strongly believe that the FCC should fully and fairly review the detailed record associated with M2Z’s license application and its forbearance petition and make a decision consistent with the law Congress enacted," M2Z VP for regulatory affairs Uzoma Onyeije has been uoted as saying.

The 2GHz band (2155-2175MHz) isn't all that fast for free. We're talking an ad-supported service that would offer 384kbps down and 128kbps u. But if you want to pay, you'll get faster 3Mbps.

Not that M2Z wants a handout or anything like that. They are offering a carrot- 5% of gross revenues to the FCC for a premium service.

Cellular services don't like this M2Z deal one iota. In an FCC filing the CTIA (trade association for cell carriers) In an FCC filing (PDF) the CTIA says the plan creates "a number of legal and public policy problems without serving the public interest."

Well duh. Big cell would rather offer this to you on their terms.

But you are the public. What do you think?

[poll id=123]

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