M2Z Networks: Freedom. Innovation
“Here, in the country that invented the Internet, every child should have the chance to get online, and they’ll get that chance when I’m President — because that’s how we’ll strengthen America’s competitiveness in the world.”
Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
In the Public Interest
Record Proves that a Free Nationwide Broadband Service is in the Public Interest
A free nationwide broadband service makes broadband affordable for lower income and minority families that do not have broadband because of its high cost. Despite overwhelming public support for using the AWS-3 spectrum band for a free broadband service for 4 years, the FCC has yet to rule on this plan because of strident opposition from telephone companies like AT&T; and T-Mobile. Learn more
Our Mission
Since September 2007, the FCC has conducted a rulemaking that would establish rules for using the 2155 – 2180 MHz (AWS-3) band. M2Z along with tens of thousands of Americans, over 400 state, local and federal officials, and a coalition of national organizations have participated in the proceeding and have asked the FCC to establish a free nationwide wireless broadband network in this spectrum band.
On behalf of the American consumer and over 100 million Americans and their families without broadband today, M2Z will continue to advocate for this approach to make broadband free and ubiquitous. To send a note to the FCC to express your support for free broadband click here.
UPDATE: On March 17, 2010 the FCC completed its National Broadband Plan to help America achieve universal and affordable access to broadband for ALL its citizens pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was passed in the very early days of the Obama Administration. The FCC’s National Broadband Plan agreed with M2Z that 100 million people in the United States remain unconnected to broadband. The Plan also found that a significant majority of them are not subscribing to broadband because they simply cannot afford the high cost of broadband.
The National Broadband Plan recommended that the FCC consider using spectrum like the fallow AWS-3 spectrum to provide access to a “low cost or free” broadband service as a way of bridging the affordability gap. Because the FCC still has to act on making broadband affordable, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D, WVA), head of the Senate Commerce Committee, challenged the FCC at an April 14, 2010 FCC oversight hearing to deliver innovative solutions like the one proposed by M2Z saying:
“I am going to challenge the FCC to make the hard choices that will help bring broadband to every corner of this country. Putting ideas on paper is not enough. Just seeking comment on a slew of issues is not enough. It’s action that counts.”
Recent News
| 09-02-2010 | Fast Company – M2Z’s Free, Wireless Nationwide Broadband Plan Killed: Thank the FCC |
| 05-03-2010 | – A New Deal for broadband: free, wireless |
| 01-14-2009 | Fierce Wireless – Sound Off – Industry reacts to Obama’s FCC pick |
| 12-29-2008 | ars technica – Martin drops porn filtering from FCC free wireless broadband plan |
| 12-22-2008 | Washington Times – Bullish on broadband |
| 12-22-2008 | Ars Technica – Still hope for the FCC’s smut-free broadband plan? |
| 12-18-2008 | BetaNews – Congressmen accuse FCC of violating law in delaying AWS-3 vote |
| 12-18-2008 | RCRWireless – FCC again urged to vote on AWS-3 plans |
| 12-18-2008 | FierceWireless – Congressmen urge FCC vote on AWS-3 |
| 12-14-2008 | TMCnews (Editorial) – Thanks to Dubya – No Free Wireless Internet |
| 12-12-2008 | Wall Street Journal – FCC Head Cancels Vote on Free Internet Plan |
| 12-12-2008 | Sci-Tech Today – White House Opposes FCC’s Free Internet Plan |
| 12-11-2008 | MarketWatch – M2Z Urges FCC to Vote on Free Broadband Initiative Amidst Bush Administration Efforts to Squash It |
| 12-11-2008 | InformationWeek – White House Opposes FCC Free Wireless Network Plan |
| 12-11-2008 | PC Magazine – Bush Opposes Free Wireless Broadband |
| 12-11-2008 | NewsOxy – Bush Attacks FCC Mandate Plan For Free Wireless Internet |
| 12-06-2008 | Silicon Alley Insider – Obama Promises 100% Broadband Availability (VIDEO) |
| 12-01-2008 | USA Today – FCC to vote on free wireless broadband across U.S. |
| 12-01-2008 | Wall Street Journal – Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head |
The Application
Free Broadband Time line:
– On May 5, 2006, M2Z Networks starts the ball rolling on free broadband for America by submitting an application to the FCC to lease 20 MHz of nationwide Spectrum at 2155 MHz. The un-paired spectrum had been lying fallow for over 14 years
– In August 2007 the FCC dismisses M2Z’s application (without prejudice) and indicates that it would rather put the spectrum to use through a rulemaking process.
– In September 2007, the FCC issues a rulemaking (NPRM) for the 2155-2175 MHz band along with a commitment to issue service rules within 9 months of Federal Register publication of the NPRM.
– On November 14, 2007, the NPRM was published in the Federal Register.
– On December 12, 2008, the FCC canceled a planned vote on free broadband but the item remains “on circulation” and can be voted by the five FCC Commissioners at any time.
Summary of key quotes in Support of free broadband and M2Z (Download)