More spectrum for wireless broadband use. Those are words that we love to hear at IntoMobile and the FCC has been on the hunt for just that. The FCC is hoping to make 500MHz of spectrum available for mobile use over the next 10 years with the goal of getting at least 300MHz over the next five years. Pretty lofty, but more spectrum means less congestion and it also opens up the space to those who can hold their own against the big players who typically win these spectrum auctions.
Now the FCC is opening up comment on what to do with 35MHz of the Big LEO band, which is the band between 1675MHz and 1710MHz, and whether it should be considered for mobile broadband use. Right now, the band is being used for weather balloons and satellites, so the FCC is suggesting wireline transmissions for such uses in order to free the spectrum up for mobile use.
According to GigaOm, the FCC is giving citizens and agencies until June 28 to let them know how, where and when they, the citizens and agencies, are using the 90MHz of spectrum in the Big LEO band. Since the goverment has been using this spectrum already, and it seems perfectly willing to share said spectrum, notifying the public and opening up for comment is the FCC’s way of deciding whether it can offer up the 35MHz of spectrum to mobile operators.
When it comes to freeing up more spectrum, I’m all for it. Of course, this is a plan that will span over the course of several years, so don’t expect any sudden changes or improvements in your mobile broadband service just yet. Let’s not forget how long ago it was that Verizon won the 700MHz auction and how it’s just starting to use that for its LTE roll-out next year.