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"We've been keeping an eye on the FCC\u2019s 700MHz spectrum auction for the last couple of weeks. The bidding war commenced back on January 24, and, after seeing things get off to a slow start with several days of oddly small bites by various participates for the five \u201Cblocks,\u201D (A,B,C,D,E) big money has now taken the stage. The portion of spectrum known as \u201CC block\u201D alone has already surpassed the $4.6B reserve mark. (That is the point at which the buyer agrees by default to abide by open networking rules.)\nAnd as many of you know, Google has kept its sights strongly on C block, which many have considered essential to the company\u2019s technological framework if it were to pursue the creation of its own US-based wireless network. (Some, including myself, believed that such an enterprise might have been planned.) Google negotiated forcibly with the FCC, against opposition brought by several established American telecommunications giants, to ensure that that particular aspect of the auction carry with it the requirement of remaining an open space by which any and all competitors could transmit data freely.\nWell, for those of you who had hoped for the future arrival of \u201CGoogle Wireless,\u201D we may have to disappoint. News arrived this morning that essentially signified Google\u2019s all-but-certain defeat by telecom megalith Verizon for the prized C block spectrum.\nLast week, speculation as to the status of the auction was quite intense. Some said that Google had put forth a $4.7B ($100m north of the reserve price), giving it a strong chance of coming away from the process with its hands full. Earlier today, however, Elizabeth Woyke of Forbes.com reported that Verizon\u2019s interest in the C block was not shaken by Mountain View\u2019s move, and is likely determined to claim the wireless space in order to, in the words of Stifel Nicolaus analyst Rebecca Arbogast, \u201Cclose the gap...(with) AT&amp;T.\u201D\nArbogast went on to say that she was \u201Creasonably confident that Google does not have the spectrum now.\u201D\nWhile this update comes as something of a personal surprise (I have been observing the 700MHz auction rather eagerly), I cannot say that I\u2019ve been entirely thrown. It was certainly a bit of a stretch to think Google would go through to the very end to claim the prize. I figured the chance of a Google win to be just a bit greater to that of another party\u2019s. Nonetheless, Google appears slated to leave the auction empty handed.\nExcept, well, not empty handed. Remember, Google has ensured the openness of the 700MHz. Though the vision of \u201CGoogle Wireless\u201D is an idea now bound to reside only in the realm of fan fiction, we are guaranteed to encounter minimal technological barriers wherever the C block spectrum is ultimately employed. That\u2019s something to look forward to, yes?"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2008/02/06/google-700mhz-auction-update/>