Google, however, might still have an opportunity to offer wireless broadband in the 700 MHz band without having to buy spectrum. Google, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - message board), and other members of the White Spaces Coalition are developing devices designed to tap vacant broadcast channels (TV white spaces) for broadband services.
The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology recently dealt that group a setback, reporting that some early prototypes were poor at sensing the presence of a digital signal consistently and tended to cause interference on Digital Cable Ready (DCR) televisions. Microsoft countered in a filing of its own that the FCC tested a defective device and did not run tests on what the company believed to be a working spare. (See 'White Space' Worries and Busted! )
Although nocable operators have discussed any plans publicly, they, too, could factor into the bidding for spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Or, at least, the U.S. cable industry's primary lobbying arm, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) , has pressed the FCC to give cablers a fair shot at bidding for such spectrum, shooting down claims that MSOs might enter the auction just to derail broadband competition and hoard valuable capacity. (See Cable Wants In on TV Spectrum Auction .)
Then again, some MSOs may avoid the bidding altogether -- at least those that are part of SpectrumCo LLC, a joint venture of Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Cox Communications Inc. , Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC - message board), and Advance/Newhouse (Bright House Networks ), which won 137 wireless spectrum licenses last fall for the FCC's auction of advanced wireless services (AWS). Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S - message board), by the way, has announced its intention to exit the joint venture. (See SpectrumCo Gets Licenses and Sprint to Exit SpectrumCo Venture .)