IP Democracy: The Ever-So-Fun 700 MHz Auction

Yup, the 700 MHz auction is, indeed, getting juicier — we’ve got issue advertising! The ever-sharp-and-great-to-read Sean Garrett flyspecked this ad that is running in the National Journal.

The ad links to a page posted by CTIA Wireless, the main trade group for the incumbent wireless carriers. Of course the page is replete with materials that argue against what Google and other groups are seeking in this auction — a four-point approach to open access in the new spectrum.

And, of course, it’s a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. It’s actually closer to a case of the huge cast-iron pot calling the tea kettle’s little whistle thingy black (to torture a metaphor beyond, perhaps, understandability.)

With its ad, CTIA implies that Google is a very rich bully, trying to buy its way into the spectrum auction with soooo much money. Just look at the implicit big dollar amount.

Puhleease…when it comes to riches, CTIA’s members are hard to beat.

Let’s see…AT&T, one of CTIA’s most influential members, if not the most influential member, reported its earnings yesterday. For wireless alone, AT&T generated over $10 billion in revenue, and over the past four quarters has generated nearly $40 billion in revenue for wireless services.

Google, which reported its earnings two days ago, generated around $4 billion in revenue — in total. Over the past four quarters, Google’s combined revenues are slightly higher than $14 billion.

So, just one of CTIA’s members generates three times the amount of revenue that Google does from just one of its lines of businesses. CTIA may have some valid points about the 700 MHz auction, but trying to paint Google as a fat cat ain’t one of them.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on July 25, 2007 9:51 AM to IP Democracy