The FCC's long-awaited national broadband plan will make its debut Tuesday, March 16, during an open meeting of the commission. The plan, which will be presented to Congress March 17, was originally supposed to make its debut last month but was pushed to March.
Ahead of its release, the FCC has been revealing details of the plan--and some of its key parts are already drawing intense opposition. One provision, a "Mobile Future Auction," calls for a spectrum auction that allows current licensees, including broadcasters, to voluntarily give up spectrum in exchange for a share of auction proceeds. This provision, which has drawn the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters trade group, is one element of a plan to free up 500 MHz of spectrum over the next decade for mobile broadband use.
Not surprisingly, the wireless industry, headed by trade group CTIA, has applauded the plan's vision.
FierceWireless will be covering the debut of the national broadband plan debut Tuesday. Stay tuned for our coverage.
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