FCC setting stage for spectrum auction | Repub FCC commish says broadband not a right

[Panich52]

The Hill
Overnight Tech

LEDE: The FCC is getting ready to set the stage for 2016's spectrum auction.

Chairman Tom Wheeler on Thursday circulated his proposed rules for the auction as well as reforms to a program that Dish used to get over $3 billion in discounts in the previous AWS-3 auction.

He also, as expected, recommended that the commission deny T-Mobile's request to expand the spectrum set aside for small carriers from 30 megahertz to 40. T-Mobile indicated in a statement that it is not likely to let up on their aggressive lobbying push until the votes are counted in mid-July.

"Low band spectrum is the holy grail for AT&T and Verizon," said Andy Levin, T-Mobile's senior vice president for government affairs, in a statement.

"They know if we get our hands on it, they will finally have to compete with us on price. Their customers alone would save over $20 billion per year. That's why everyone with a phone has a stake in the outcome of this proceeding, and the FCC should heed the calls of DOJ, many in Congress and a slew of consumer groups and move to strengthen the reserve."

The big two wireless firms -- AT&T and Verizon -- were a little more quiet.

AT&T declined to comment. A Verizon spokesman directed The Hill to a blog post where the company said that spectrum "is too valuable a public resource to consumers and the U.S. economy for the FCC to set aside large amounts for select companies at cut-rate prices."

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler recommended on Thursday that the agency reject calls to expand the amount of wireless spectrum set aside for smaller carriers, like T-Mobile, in an upcoming auction.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/246173-fcc-chairman-sides-against-t-mobile-on-wireless-auction-rules


O'RIELLY SAYS BROADBAND NO HUMAN RIGHT:

During a speech in front of the Internet Innovation Alliance, Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly said access to the Internet is not a basic human right, or even a necessity in the day-to-day lives of Americans.

"From a regulator's perspective, it is important to recognize the difference between a necessity or a human right and goods such as access to the Internet. Avoiding the use of such rhetorical traps is wise," he said during a speech about the role of regulators.

Only link was to dl doc
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0014IPOkJ6jNTQTapSaXD8xt0QXDFImx4nrHTdRpUWkgWTu_TYd5UgkfVC9euZYUT2ajsZbzXsnR_jpmkgWm0wW_Xdn0xnvhu9p_EpWlPfdQPQIaHnU7PUJemAR6MgDs6RdlEiASgNVqFTTGAXxRzBxt7G9DyULSh76vA31dCsnKSYzyN8C5t9Sm0qcV9YhGecs_xHSts_IxgZma5dZSk1np_gLfWHEMNeb58utcXuvvEr8jnP9P36Q7ptauAM-eREI4PcFJlxj5MA=&c=gxRZmXqIYa3pWSQV_cZjqBqOLqPB9Txq6BFF-ay4fZSeziVcumDlbA==&ch=NPjfiGFcOt6Dhi1vd2_VLoS95zLDUE940O0hMc5o2i5Brr0ri_FM2g==

[procon]

1. I doubt anyone living in the modern world would agree

that the Internet isn't an indispensable right. Not just for all the obvious things we all use the Internet for, but all the other vital electronic devices and daily conveniences around your home, workplace or your community that need an Internet connection.