County executive group seeks public support for stimulus proposal

With a September 30 deadline for awarding broadband stimulus funds looming, the County Executives of America hopes to put pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to make spectrum available for a previously proposed network that would support free 4G wireless service.

The CEA applied for a $122 million broadband stimulus grant to cover equipment costs to deliver 4G service in 12 counties using the proposed spectrum -- including impoverished areas with low broadband subscribership such as the Bronx, N.Y. The proposal calls for the equipment to be deployed by M2Z, a carrier that has offered to build the free 4G network to reach as much as 95% of the U.S. 

This week, the CEA issued a press release urging interested parties to voice their support for releasing the spectrum through the www.FreeBroadbandNow.com Web site.

“The FCC has not made a decision one way or another after four years,” said John Muleta, CEO of M2Z. The CEA, he said, “should have the potential to deploy the service and take advantage of the stimulus funds.”

With the stimulus grant, counties such as the Bronx would have the opportunity to get the free broadband service more quickly than if they were to wait for M2Z to bring service there, Muleta said. M2Z has offered to provide 30% matching funding for the CEA project and to bear the long-term cost of running and operating the networks.

If the FCC makes the spectrum — in the 2155–2180 MHz band — available for the free 4G network, M2Z’s goal would be to deploy long-term evolution (LTE) service in the band. As an alternative to charging customers for the service, M2Z’s goal would be to earn revenues through partnerships with ISPs, telcos and cable companies as well as through businesses wanting to reach those customers.

Muleta believes M2Z’s ability to know where customers are located will be a big draw. “Facebook would love to have an idea of where you are,” he said.

To use the service initially, end users would have to buy a wireless device that retails for around $150, Muleta said. In the future computers will have built-in support for LTE.