According to an article in the New York Times, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the purchase by AT&T (NYSE: ATT) of 12MHz of wireless spectrum that covers 60 percent of the U.S:
"AT&T bought the spectrum from Aloha Spectrum Holdings. The spectrum, in the highly coveted 700MHz band, covers 196 million of the 303 million U.S. residents and includes 72 of the top 100 media markets in the country. Aloha acquired the spectrum in earlier FCC auctions and from other auction winners. This portion of the 700MHz spectrum is not part of the FCC auction now in progress."
AT&T plans to use this spectrum for broadcast video or for two-way communications such as voice, data or multicast content. AT&T is still thought to be one of the companies contending for the sought-after "C block" of the 700MHz spectrum currently up for auction; see my previous post, 700MHz Spectrum Auction Update, for details.
Related to their "wired" business; I just read a Chicago Tribune article that AT&T "will raise the price of its most common broadband Internet services in many of the states where it operates" by $5 per month. I find myself wondering whether the FCC should be scrutinizing some of these acquisitions to ensure there is some fair competition in the marketplace. AT&T seems to becoming the 800lb gorilla it once was and I'm not sure how good that will be for their residential or commercial customers. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.
» Know More Media Review: Economic Stimulus, Super Tuesday, Residual Super Bowl Buzz from Know More Media
Again another political week. Between Super Tuesday, talk of recession, and the economic stimulus package meant to stave off said recession, there was little room for discussion of other topics on the network. There was however more talk about a... [Read More]
Tracked on: February 8, 2008 10:45 PM | Permalink to Trackback