• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

National Survey Shows Strong Support for M2Z Networks' Free Wireless Broadband Proposal

Posted on: Thursday, 19 April 2007, 15:00 CDT

Republicans and Democrats across the country believe all Americans -- particularly low-income children -- should have equal access to broadband Internet according to a poll released today by M2Z Networks, Inc. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed supported the FCC's leasing of spectrum to provide free broadband across the United States.

In testimony today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, John Muleta, chief executive officer of M2Z, outlined key findings of the poll, which include:

83 percent support a wireless backup system for public safety officers and first responders in emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina and the catastrophes of September 11, 2001.

75 percent believe all Americans should have equal access to the Internet.

74 percent agree it is important to provide broadband access to low-income children.

69 percent agree high-speed Internet access is important to prepare children for future success in the evolving information economy.

70 percent agree broadband provided by cable and telephone companies is expensive and the providers are difficult to deal with.

Nearly as many (68 percent) believe that cable and telephone companies do not do enough to provide broadband service to low-income and rural families.

Overall, 65 percent reacted positively to FCC approval of a license to provide a free wireless broadband service, such as what M2Z has proposed in its application pending at the FCC. Support was equally strong among respondents who consider themselves Democrats, Republicans and independents in all parts of the country.

"Broadband availability for all U.S. citizens has been identified as a top priority by leaders in both parties, including President Bush, Speaker Pelosi, FCC Chairman Martin, and many of the distinguished members of the Subcommittee," testified Muleta. "I'm happy to report that M2Z has identified a path to reach that goal."

M2Z's application before the FCC seeks a 15 year renewable lease to operate nationwide on 20 MHz of currently underutilized spectrum in the 2155-2175 MHz band. In return, M2Z will build a wireless broadband network that will offer fast, free, family-friendly Internet access across the Unites States, accessible to at least 95 percent of Americans, and priority access to its network for public safety officials in times of emergency. In return for the use of the spectrum M2Z has also pledged to pay the U.S. Treasury 5 percent of annual gross revenues from a subscription service that will offer wireless-broadband access over the same spectrum at even higher speeds.

M2Z's application for authorization from the Federal Communications Commission to construct the network has been pending for nearly a year.

Of the more than 1,100 submissions to the FCC's docket during the public comment period, more than 95 percent were supportive of M2Z. Organizations whose membership totals over 6 million Americans support M2Z's application. Supporters include such groups as the National PTA (http://www.pta.org), One Economy Corporation (http://www.one-economy.com), County Executives of America (http://www.countyexecutives.org) and The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (http://www.ikeepsafe.org).

This broad support is consistent with the poll's finding that by a two-to-one-margin, survey respondents disapproved of selling transmission licenses to the highest bidder when the winners do not use the spectrum.

The few opponents of M2Z's application, including the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association representing incumbent licensees, have argued that the FCC should allocate spectrum only by auctioning it to the highest bidder.

The poll also reveals that 75 percent of Americans are more likely to support a member of Congress who favors the leasing of spectrum to provide free broadband service to consumers.

The survey found that 69 percent of respondents have Internet access at home. Of those who have access, 50 percent subscribe to high-speed broadband and 16 percent have access to dial-up service.

Jan van Lohuizen of Voter/Consumer Research and David Mermin of Lake Research Partners conducted the nationwide survey of 1,003 Americans Feb. 8-15. The survey's margin of error is 3.1 percent.

About M2Z Networks, Inc.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., M2Z Networks' goal is to transform the current state of the broadband marketplace by building a high speed wireless network throughout the United States. In May 2006, the company submitted a license application to the Federal Communications Commission to construct and operate a nationwide broadband wireless network in the 2155-2175 MHz spectrum band. Approval of the application would guarantee delivery of free, fast and family-friendly wireless broadband service to at least 95 percent of Americans in a 10 year timeframe. M2Z is backed by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers, Charles River Ventures, and Redpoint Ventures, three of the most successful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley with $5 billion of capital under management. For more information, please visit www.M2Znetworks.com

For more information, or to receive summaries of the polling data and a copy of Mr. Muleta's testimony, please contact Robin Buckley on behalf of M2Z Networks at 703.533.9805 or rbuckley@m2znetworks.com

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category