Google to Bid in Airwave Auction

Via SFGate.com -

Google Inc. says it is prepared to bid billions of dollars in an auction of federal wireless frequencies to create a national broadband network that could compete directly with the wired networks of companies like AT&T and Comcast.

A victory would open the door for Google to operate the network itself, vastly increasing its business prospects by selling Internet, telephone and television services. Or it could have other companies do the job, a more likely scenario.

But the Mountain View Internet giant also said it would bid on the band of wireless spectrum that's on the block only if federal regulators met certain conditions. It's unclear whether the government will meet Google's demands.

Google hopes its celebrity and deep pockets will sway federal regulators to implement rules requiring the auction's winner to lease portions of the wireless "spectrum" to third parties.