US 700Mhz auction raises $19.6bn The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has announced the end of the US 700MHz auction, but won't be saying who's snapped up the frequencies for another 10 days or so while they officially close the sale. The delay is down to the lack of bids on the D block, which had a reserve of $1.6bn and an obligation to provide a …
So it sounds like no Google or any other innovation. While desperately wishing for a different answer it sounds like verizon and att did exactly what they had to do -- pay any amount WHATSOEVER to ensure they could continue to rape and pillage the American people for the Long Term to come.
This is exactly what gives capitalism a bad name!!!!! I feel fortunate to be a part of such a progressive system.
PLUS, now we get to watch the FCC piss away $19,000,000,000 without showing one single benefit for anyone who actually pays taxes, has a job, should be allowed to breed.
This is a real Monday Morning sort of story.
"The FCC already has plans for the cash. Apparently, it's to be spent on "public safety and digital television transition initiatives", so it's digital set-top boxes all round then."
Surely it's more likely to be a bit more lock-in, like mandating HDMI, broadcast flags, etc. I don't believe they'd just give out some set top boxes without forcing people into using a few of their "best ideas".
... but maybe instead of auctioning it off it could have just been opened up.
The main reason we have such huge companies who have so much power over us is due to the massive entry costs into these businesses, only a large company which can dominate us can ever afford the amounts required!
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