Mobile phone innovators ask FCC to remove roadblocks
Home » Mobile phone innovators ask FCC to remove roadblocks
Forbes has run a story informing readers that this year, the FCC is set to auction off another block of the wireless spectrum. According to the publication, if a band of "technology veterans" and "wireless entrepreneurs" have their way, the FCC will reserve part of that spectrum as a "sandbox" for innovative companies. This notion is not at all something put out by starry-eyed idealists either, and has taken the form of an open letter to the FCC on Thursday...
The premise is that the big 4: Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile act as a roadblock to innovation. The fix? Continue selling the spectrum but force wireless operators to allow anyone selling a device, much like the Internet is. Last year, the somewhat arcane concept of "network neutrality" was battled to a stalemate as tech companies like Yahoo and Google piled in support, and an assortment of groups began lending their support, offering their political prowess and backing to the cause. Will techies have the stomach and political acumen to win this new fight?