Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    Cyren Call Denies Spectrum Auction Influence

    By
    Roy Mark
    -
    April 7, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      No one does official outrage like Morgan O’Brien. The Nextel co-founder who sold the company to Sprint for $35 billion in 2004, on April 4 strongly denied allegations that the public safety community effectively squelched Frontline Wireless’ bid in the recently concluded 700MHz auction.

      Frontline made a big splash last year with its proposal to build a public/private network that would serve both public safety and consumers. The plan involved pairing 10MHz of the 60MHz spectrum up for auction and then combining that block with the 24MHz already dedicated to a public safety network.

      But just weeks before the auction began, Frontline Wireless pulled the plug on the plan and closed its doors, reportedly because it couldn’t raise the money for the venture. In addition to the cost of building the network, the Federal Communications Commission placed a $128 million minimum bid for the spectrum.

      Ultimately, the FCC was unable to find bidders to meet the minimum bid requirements, leaving the agency back at square one for developing a nationwide public safety interoperable network.

      Several weeks ago, rumors began to surface that Cyren Call, the company founded by O’Brien to serve as the agent for the public safety spectrum, wanted a front-loaded $500 million lease agreement.

      To read more about the FCC’s investigation into the 700MHz auction, click here.

      “Anyone stating or implying that I or any member of Cyren Call or the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) ‘demanded’ a spectrum lease payment is lying,” O’Brien said in a statement. “Furthermore, anyone suggesting that any spectrum payment would be paid to Cyren Call is lying.”

      O’Brien, whose spectrum wheeling and dealing over the last 20 years is legendary in Washington, made his comments after the official gag order on auction participants was lifted by the FCC.

      O’Brien admitted the $500 million amount was discussed with Frontline Wireless, AT&T and Verizon, who all expressed interest in the public/private network. However, O’Brien stressed, the actual amount of the lease was subject to negotiation and FCC approval. Moreover, he said, Frontline Wireless was well aware of the condition before it submitted paperwork to participate in the auction.

      “Anonymous third-party allegations that the prospect of an annual lease payment ‘killed’ Frontline do not stand up to scrutiny,” Cyren Call said in the statement. “Whatever caused Frontline to abandon its pursuit of the D block occurred after it was well aware of and even had endorsed the PSST’s partnership expectations and the FCC’s reserve price.”

      Cyren Call pointed to several Frontline statements before the auction, including Nov. 30 comments from Frontline’s Jim Barksdale that the public safety requirements “dovetail with Frontline’s own business and construction plans.” A week later, Frontline filed a document with the FCC stating, “We are bidding to win and build out a 4G network to meet the needs of public safety.”

      Both comments were made after Frontline Wireless had met with Cyren Call and PSST officials. Frontline Wireless was unavailable for comment, as it went out off business in January.

      Whether the allegations against Cyren Call are true or not, O’Brien can expect a barrage of the same and more when U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., holds an April 15 hearing on who dropped the dime on the D block. Rep. John Dingell, is also likely to have an uncomfortable question or two.

      “I believe we must fully review the nature and authority of the public safety spectrum trust and whether this model should be retained or modified,” Markey said March 18, just hours after bidding closed.

      Roy Mark

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×