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Nov. 28, 2008

The FCC said it is likely to discuss and potentially vote on its Chairman’s plan for a controversial AWS-3 spectrum auction sometime around Dec. 2 or 3rd.

However, some details could emerge as soon as Monday morning at a special press conference, an FCC spokesperson said.

A meeting agenda wasn't yet released, and this week being Thanksgiving there may not be any news until early Monday morning.

The controversy stems from a disagreement between existing AWS-1 users and new AWS-3 supporters. There are now many wireless providers joining the bandwagon as well.

Several incumbent AWS-1 carriers and industry groups, most notably T-Mobile USA and CTIA, say there will be too much interference if the AWS-3 plan is allowed to go unchanged.

But M2Z Networks wants to use AWS-3 to offer free nationwide mobile Wi-MAX service. It says any interference will be inconsequential and that incumbents’ real agenda is to stonewall its business plan...

That battle has been ongoing for numerous months now, and some are visibly irritated with all the controversy, and have been pushing the FCC for a vote, or at least some kind of approval.

T-Mobile USA also recently said it may file a lawsuit if the FCC votes to allow the AWS-3 auction to succeed.

M2Z CEO John Muleta, a former FCC executive, said his team is well qualified to fully understand and analyze the engineering issues related to AWS-3 interference issues.

It will be interesting to see how and when this whole thing will be solved, given the number of participants and their vested interests in the whole matter. One thing is for sure, whoever wins this, it will probably be contested...

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    This article was featured on Business 5.0 and on Tech Blog.

Source: The Federal Communications Commission.