In addition to the white spaces and 700 MHz issues I've mentioned recently, there's another spectrum matter that I keep bumping into and wondering about:  M2Z.

This is a bid to offer wireless broadband to all, if the venture can get the spectrum for free:

The company in a filing with FCC says if it was to get the soon to be vacated 2155 MHz to 2175 MHz spectrum for free for 15 years, it would offer universal broadband access nationwide, and in exchange it would hand over 5% of its gross revenues from its premium broadband service. In addition, it will give free 512 kilobits per second wireless access to one and all, which will be supported by advertising.

I can't tell how their petition is being received at the FCC.  For political reasons, they're promising an "automatic, default blocking of access to pornographic, obscene, and/or indecent material" and a secondary network for public safety.  But they're also promising a new nationwide wireless broadband system, and rumor has it that M2Z has $400 million in venture capital to implement their plans. M2Z stands for "move the cost of data transport to zero."

Daily Wireless says that the block of spectrum that M2Z wanted (20MHz of bandwidth) has been taken out of an FCC auction -- because "The FCC has decided that “free” nationwide broadband wireless (and exclusive use) is not an idea whose time has come."  I don't have confirmation of this -- expert advice welcome.

Big day at USC's Annenberg Center today.  Very interesting people -- many projects going on -- very glad I went.