Broadband & Community Broadband

A consortium of consumer groups is planning to urge federal regulators to clarify how much control cellphone companies can have over the messages and services delivered over their networks.

In a petition to be filed with the Federal Communications Commission today, these groups say the agency should prohibit wireless carriers from blocking text messages sent by any company, nonprofit group or political campaign. These groups -- including Public Knowledge, Free Press, Media Access Project, Consumers Union and the New… more

Even as the wireless industry chants a new gospel about opening mobile-phone networks to outside devices and applications, some of the biggest U.S. carriers are quietly blocking new services that would compete with their own.

Would-be mobile-service providers, ranging from startups to major banks to eBay's (EBAY) PayPal have encountered these roadblocks, erected by the likes of AT&T (T) and Verizon Wireless. In some cases, cellular carriers have backed down, but only after inflicting costly delays on the new services.

At issue… more

Los Angeles Times's John Healey wrote on Verizon Wireless' decision to open its network to independent developers and phone manufacturers. Here's an excerpt from Healey's Opinion Piece quoting New America's Sascha Meinrath:

Some observers aren't convinced by Verizon Wireless' turnabout. In particular, they note that the degree of openness will depend on how the company implements its plans. Will Verizon Wireless offer discounts to people who supply their own phones? After all, its current rates are bumped up to cover the… more

...The federal government's decision to auction off this prime public spectrum next month could change the wireless world. It has the potential to make talking on a cellphone, surfing the Web on a mobile device and even watching television on your handset easier and cheaper.

Google Inc. said Friday that it would bid, and a slew of other companies were expected to file to join them by Monday's deadline. ...

"No matter which bidder ultimately prevails, the real winners of this auction… more

Verizon Wireless officials announced Tuesday they would open up their network to any devices and software customers want to use by the second half of 2008. Any device that passes a minimal connectivity test will be allowed on the Verizon Wireless network, officials said.

That announcement drew applause from a wide variety of groups. Public Knowledge, a consumer rights group that has pushed for open network regulations from the U.S. Congress or the Federal Communications Commission, said it was "cautiously optimistic"… more

Eight public-interest and consumer groups have asked the Federal Communications Commission to reject requests by two large telecommunication providers to close off their copper voice and data networks to competitors in 10 U.S. cities.

The groups, including the Consumer Federation of America, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation, sent a letter to the FCC Tuesday, saying attempts by Verizon Communications Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. to end wholesale price controls on their copper networks would result in "significant rate… more

The following article is a positive and well-deserved profile of Tim Wu -- quoting Chris Sacca of Google -- that plays off the impact of his New America paper on wireless net neutrality. Google CEO Eric Schmidt is on New America's Leadership Council.

"Tim Wu, Freedom Fighter: His wireless-phone manifesto was the inspiration for Google's new mobile-software strategy, which includes the Open Handset Alliance." 

On Nov. 5, Google (GOOG) unveiled what many in the phone business had long awaited. CEO… more

When a unit of Samsung Electronics Co. appeared arm in arm earlier this year with companies pushing the government to open unused airwaves for inexpensive wireless Internet service, other parts of the South Korean conglomerate were less than pleased.

Samsung (SSNLF) boasts a vast reach into markets ranging from cell phones to televisions. In this instance, that diversity has the company in the odd position of arguing both for and against the hot-button notion of tapping unused TV airwaves in… more

When a group of companies with a combined market value of nearly $1 trillion decides it wants a favor from the federal government, it shouldn’t have trouble making quick time of the opposition.

Such a super-wealthy group is the White Spaces Coalition, formed by the likes of Google, Microsoft, Intel, Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Their goal is to provide advanced wireless communications services on vacant TV channels without having to secure licenses from the FCC at auction.

But the alliance of deep-pocketed technology… more

When the transition to digital TV is completed in February 2009, broadcasters will retain channels 2 to 51, but will actually be using less than half of that spectrum to broadcast over-the-air DTV signals. Local TV stations will be separated by empty channels, known as "white space" -- underutilized spectrum that new “smart radio” technologies can use for productive activities, including wireless broadband, without interfering with television reception. DARPA and other wireless innovators have already developed far… more