Daniel Porter
Aug 23, 2012
•
Featured
Verizon spectrum deal approved
In a not-unexpected move, the FCC approved Verizon's proposal to buy a whole fistful of wireless spectrum from Time Warner and Comcast. The company is paying $3.9 billiion for roughly 20 MHz worth of frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum, which they reportedly plan to use to beef up their 4G networks. Critics (the the labor union Communications Workers of America) say this type of discourages technological development that would help us get around the problem of too many devices on too few channels, and that the deal will give Verizon a near-monopoly-like advantage in the mobile market. Supporters say "it's probably fine."