October 12th, 2008
FCC: Free wireless spectrum won't harm T-Mobile
Back in May, the FCC was to vote on rules for a national free wireless spectrum along the lines of a proposal by M2Z Networks.
But rather than handing over 25MHz of spectrum to the Kleiner Perkins-based company, the FCC decided to auction the spectrum off to a company that would dedicate some of the spectrum to free wireless. The winner must reach half the US population in four years and 95% by 2018.
On Friday, the agency released a technical report which said that providing wireless over the 2155-2180MHz spectrum would not interfere with T-Mobile existing 3G network. News.com reports that T-Mobile claims the new service would interfere with abutting spectrum it bought last year for $4 billion for a 3G network.
“This report confirms that we’re able to move forward with broadband services as proposed by Chairman Martin without causing harmful interference to license users of adjacent spectrum,” said Rob Kenney, an FCC spokesman.
