Google is lobbying the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction available 3.5Ghz spectrum in the U.S., claiming 150MHz of spectrum is unused.

The new lobbying attempt focuses on opening what most carriers see as sub-optimal spectrum, even though 3.5GHz is super-fast, it lacks the capabilities of passing through walls, while 600MHz and 700MHz bands do not have that issue.

Like Us on Facebook

However, Google wants to use the 3.5GHz spectrum to broaden the access to wireless outside of offices and homes, with a focus on city centers and other public Wi-Fi spots. Google is also worried that if the 3.5GHz spectrum were to go to Verizon Wireless or AT&T, more data caps would reign down on customers, something Google is keen to avoid.

Having this spectrum in another company's hands, like Google, would alleviate the issue of U.S. carrier hoarding spectrum for data caps and higher data prices. It is unclear what Google will do with the 3.5GHz spectrum if the FCC opens up the spectrum and Google manage to win the auction. Google may rent the spectrum to other providers, at low rates to avoid data overcharges.

Google may also use the spectrum for its own wireless network, borrowing the rest from Verizon Wireless. The two companies recently made a 10-year patent agreement deal, which could be used by Google to implement its own wireless network. The wireless network would go alongside Google Fiber, allowing Google to tie a customer to its mobile and broadband network.

AT&T might not be too happy with Google working on a wireless network, considering AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner Cable are already trying to slow Google Fiber's deployment in any way possible.

TagsFCC, Lobbying, 3.GHz spectrum, U.S. carriers