A New Competitive Formula

Reed Hundt, former FCC chairman in the Democratic 1990s, laid out the case for a new class of wireless services carrier during a keynote today at the Hot Chips conference.  Hundt is vice chair of Frontline Wireless, which plans to bid in the last auction of wireless radio spectrum in the U.S. In short, it’s about assuring there is at least one nationwide wireless carrier that would wholesale communications pipes.  This would give builders of new devices and new software a route to market that is not controlled by carriers that determine what services are offered on the pipes they control. Frontline also promises to provide first-responders with no charge connections for public safety applications.  It seems that the plan successfully balances free market competition and fair access.  And that’s good news for the continued evolution of new media.