Tom Altman’s Wedia Conversation

 It seems everyone has to go the auction except our friends over at AT&T:

AT&T bought the spectrum from Aloha Spectrum Holdings. The spectrum, in the highly coveted 700MHz band, covers 196 million of the 303 million U.S. residents and includes 72 of the top 100 media markets in the country. Aloha acquired the spectrum in earlier FCC auctions and from other auction winners. This portion of the 700MHz spectrum is not part of the FCC auction now in progress.

I’m just not sure it seems “fair” to allow this to happen.  Why not include this in the auction.  AT&T is getting away with highway robbery @ 2.5 Billion!  (I cannot believe I just typed that!)

Google closer to mobile airwaves bid, sources say

Google Inc. is considering bidding alone on coveted airwaves to launch a U.S. wireless network, as a deadline nears to declare bidding plans, sources familiar with the situation said.

This is a topic I have posted about a few times - if Google (or someone else) can secure the 700 MHz band, they could cover much of the united states with high speed internet access.

Imagine the possibilities if everywhere you are you could have access to the internet.  Just think of all the devices and interconnectivity of it all.  Get rid of common cell phones in exchange for a wi-fi VOIP system.

(Geek alert - the following is very technical and geeky)  Still not sure - check out Google’s new Android SDK.

OK, this could be very interesting - and is so relevant for us because of KCRG and the move to HD.

The speculation is over about whether Google is interested in directly participating in the wireless world. On Friday, the Mountain View, California-based company said it would participate as a bidder in the upcoming federal auction of wireless spectrum in the 700-MHz band — to the tune of at least $4.6 billion.

Basically - this could mean Google could offer up free internet for all on the 700 MHz band and this could open up a whole new world…literally.