McDour

For sure, the reaction to the Federal Communications Commission’s 700 MHz decision was mixed. But no one was so visibly and verbally downcast about what the agency had wrought than Commissioner Robert McDowell. For McDowell, it is the FCC and the ruling itself that are mixed up.
McDowell blasted FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and others who unevenly went along with limited open access for about a third of the 62 megahertz of spectrum poised for auction in the jolly holiday season six months from now. McDowell was also irate about reserve prices for the mix of licenses up for auction.
“Curiously . in an effort to favor a specific business plan, the majority has fashioned a highly tailored garment that may fit no one,” McDowell fumed. “It’s not what Silicon Valley wants; it’s not what smaller players have told me they want; and it’s not what rural companies want.”
Perhaps anticipating the obvious irony of his tirade against open access-albeit one lacking a wholesale mandate-McDowell acknowledged counseling wireline entrepreneurs before joining the FCC. But, he pointed out, “There is a world of difference between the wireline industry of the 1960s and today’s wireless market.” Say what? McDowell’s advocacy for competitive wireline hopefuls occurred in the post-1996 telecom act era, when more than a handful of Baby Bells still existed. McDowell also was incredulously flummoxed about the FCC being in such a rush so as to preclude reaching a consensus on a ruling with elements that have polarized stakeholders like no time before.
Misery likes company, and McDowell had plenty. Republican Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate wasn’t happy either about limited open access, but being more loyal to Martin than McDowell, took one for the team. Just love that Tennessee Vol spirit, being a fellow UT alum myself. Tate called the 700 MHz auction a historic opportunity, placing atop of her list of potential benefits the billions of dollars likely to flow to the U.S. Treasury. Of course, the 1993 auction law requires that the FCC more or less discard bidder revenue expectations in making wireless rulings.
Well at least there was one happy camper last week. Maybe that’s what this industry really needs to shake it up: a Rupert Murdoch.