Wireless Spectrum Auction Results

I don’t know that the results could actually have been any different than they were… disappointing, to me.

[H/T to Save The Internet]

Spectrum Results Are Out; Google Bids But Verizon Wins

“The winners of the recent government spectrum auction that raised $19.6 billion are finally being revealed. Based on early reports, the results are as expected: Verizon Wireless had the winning bid for the swath of airwaves to be used for open-access; not Google, MarketWatch reports.”

Verizon wins bids on ‘open’ spectrum, while Google doesn’t

“Verizon Wireless placed a number of winning bids on so-called ‘open’ portions of wireless spectrum recently auctioned by the Federal Communications Commission, following months of speculation that Google Inc. may vie for the licences, according to data posted Thursday by the FCC.”

None of which ought to drive smiles across most Americans faces who use these services as I agree with Save The Internet when they say;

“So much for a cheaper, faster and more open Internet?

With news that AT&T and Verizon have just won the most significant chunks of available wireless spectrum, Americans face a future of more of the same: slower Internet speeds for prices that are far higher than what many people pay in Europe and Asia.”

Exactly. “They” still have not explained where the $200 Billion dollars went – it certainly didn’t go into improvements in the infrastructure as was promised.

Thankfully, Google was able to secure “that the spectrum be open to devices and applications not vetted and sold by the spectrum’s owner,” if you can believe that “they” will abide by the FCC’s rules.