Forget Google, Watch Out For Chevron In The 700 MHz Auction
from the my-ISP-is-Chevron? dept
Everybody's been buzzing about the likelihood of Google bidding on the 700 MHz spectrum that's up for auction in a few weeks, that's allowed a few other interesting characters to get in on the auction below the radar. The FCC has now announced that 266 separate entities have filed to take part in the auction, so it's quite a long list. So far, only 96 applications have been accepted, but the others have until January 4th to get their applications in order. Everyone knew Google was on the list, and it's no surprise to hear names like Verizon Wireless, Alltel, MetroPCS, Vodafone and AT&T (who already got a head start buying some other spectrum in the 700 MHz realm earlier). There was some speculation about cable companies participating, and sure enough, Cox and Cablevision will show up at the auction. Then there are a few surprises. Qualcomm is planning to bid -- which could upset some of the US carriers who consider Qualcomm more of a partner than a competitor.In a list of 266 companies, there are always going to be some long shots -- but it still doesn't hurt to point out some of the more interesting bidders. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen plans to bid via his Vulcan Spectrum LLC (reusing his favorite "Vulcan" name for companies). It's unclear what he would do with the spectrum. Perhaps even more surprising is the news that oil giant Chevron is planning to participate. What the company would do with the spectrum should it win (and it certainly has the money to win) is an open question, but there are a few intriguing ideas. As for Google, don't hold your breath for a win here. It has seemed pretty clear from the beginning that the company is only in the auction to bid $4.6 billion -- the lowest point necessary to force open access rules to kick in. It would be a huge surprise if the company bid much more than that, and it would be an even bigger surprise if no one outbid Google.
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Filed Under: 700 mhz, fcc, paul allen, spectrum, spectrum auction
Companies: at&t, chevron, fcc, google, verizon
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Re: Sprint
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Diversification
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700 Mhz spectrum
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Re: 700 Mhz spectrum
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Ex-Chevron Employee
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Here's the Scoop...
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Chevron and PR
Chevron is constantly facing PR crisis after crisis. I guess it doesn't help that they named a tanker after Condoleezza Rice, is considered a horrendous polluter of air and water, and is an industry which isn't too popular with the people of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Chevron is probably looking to diversify away from oil, but they are just as addicted to oil profits as Americans are addicted to their SUVs. Still, at least they have enough intelligence to see that the age of oil will not last forever. Perhaps they want to be seen as just as indispensable in the internet age, but without the stain of being in the oil business.
Chevron is a huge corporation, and will take years to transition away from oil, but I hope they do it, and soon. The faster we get away from a fossil fuel based economy, the better. To all the doubters: look at IBM. They used to be a big iron company, and now look at them: they're a company of consultants. Chevron might be profitable now, but unless they can show that their business (whatever that may be) is sustainable, their share price will drop like a rock, and there will be riots in the streets of Richmond.
Do I trust Chevron not to do anything nefarious with my data? No, but I wouldn't trust Google either. AT&T has pretty much proved that it can't be trusted, but I don't see a mass boycott of AT&T on the horizon. If an ISP were to offer fully end-to-end encrypted pipes using something like an upgraded Tor network...well, I'd still be suspicious, but at least that's better than the completely open-to-snooping system that we have now.
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seemed pretty clear?
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What happens to all this money?
5, 10, 20, 30 billion dollars!!!
Does the FCC just give billions to the head honchos?
Does it go to congress to divvy up in a budget?
Does the FCC use it to run themselves?
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO??????
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Imagine, you could order a burger wherever you are as your guided to the nearest McDonalds to pickup your order. It could be the drive through for the Digital Age!
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auction proceeds
In other words, most of the proceeds have already been spent or allocated.
Q
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Just saying.
That said, Play-Doh was originally intended as a wallpaper cleaner, most of our cars are made by former military contractors, and the PDP 11 was not invented to play Space War.
Likewise, it isn't totally unlikely that, especially as its business base is breaking apart, an oil company might become, say, a telecommunications company.
Would Chevron make a good WiMax ISP? Who knows. If they buy up some floundering tech companies, they certainly *could*. And if not, they could always lease their spectrum to other companies at a higher price... Google, Verizon, AT&T... whomever.
Or maybe they intend to run the "AutoMatrix" as FutureCars annoyingly calls it. It was guessing game enough when Google jumped in the ring.
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Why Chevron
Jim
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Why Chevron
Jim
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Why Chevron
Jim
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Re: #17, 18, and 19
Well, anyway, I have my own conspiracy theories, but I don't think speed of communications is their #1 priority in this. Ownership of the network will allow whoever has it unprecedented power. It won't be exactly like the old Bell days, but the doomsayers will compare this to the monopoly of communications era.
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