How would you like your cellphone to work on any wireless network and pay less for hi-speed Internet? That's exactly what Google would like to see happen as it gambles $4.6 billion on a bid to create the opportunities.
Google wants to transform prime public airwaves into a high-speed wireless network for Americans, which promises to open up competition in the service provider industry offering more choice than the phone and cable companies.
They intend to make a bid at an upcoming federal auction to open access to a spectrum of airwaves for wireless Internet access that is currently untapped. The unregulated spectrum of airwaves could be opened up for use, potentially without restriction for any wireless device, service or network.
Bob Williams, director of
HearUsNow.org an active promoter of telecommunications competition says "That would be revolutionary...If you want high-speed Internet service, you basically have a choice of two, and in a lot of places you don't have any choice ... and that situation has to change."
Google has approached the FCC with its proposal, but the communications commission is eyeing the airwaves that the TV broadcasters will be giving up in 2009, when they start using digital signals.
The way it works now, wireless companies control all of the access to the airwaves that they license from the government and the choices are limited. This is why Apple's iPhone only runs on AT&T's network.
In Google's case, they may not want to license the spectrum itself, but they have made it clear that they want to increase competition with the big cable and phone companies, to make Internet access cheaper for the users who will have easier access to their online services. The plan would allow users to connect any device to any network or use any software on their phones. Companies looking to get into the service providing business would be able to use the airwaves at a wholesale price and offer access to customers.
Public interest groups and a coalition of technology companies including Intel, Ebay, Yahoo, DirecTV and EchoStar are backing the proposal, but not everyone is a fan. Phone companies are obviously fighting it and they have powerful sway in Washington. AT&T is saying that Google's offer is an attempt to "stack the deck in its favor."
However, the big phone companies have an advantage over Google and the other companies because they own the existing networks of cellular towers and pools of customers. Under the traditional auction rules, they cannot be outbid.
Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin this Friday saying "In short, when Americans can use the software and handsets of their choice, over open and competitive networks, they win" Last week Martin was supporting Google's plan to allow customers to use any device or software on a wireless network, but is not supportive of the open-access requirement, which many see as the key to creating a real national competitor to the phone and cable companies. He appears to be concerned that the conditions could make it hard for auction winners to get the required funding to build their networks. He says that the FCC is still working on the rules for the upcoming auction.
Still this may not be enough, even Google's telecom and media counsel in Washington, Richard Whitt says that "It doesn't matter whether or not Google has the deep pockets — at some point you've got to say this is just an unreasonable investment... "We're just trying to un-skew things enough to give Google ... or a DirecTV or an EchoStar or a Yahoo or whoever comes in there at least a decent shot for the spectrum."
Analysts seem to be predicting that Google doesn't want to provide the service or buy airwaves itself, but is trying to spearhead the push against the grain for more choice for Internet users on a spectrum that is considered to be ideal for high speed wireless Internet.
I'd certainly like to see the same sort of thing happen in Canada, there are few choices here as well when it comes to high speed Internet. Regardless of whether Google wins it's auction bid, hopefully there will be enough waves made to open up the options for users and maybe even propagate the idea elsewhere.
