According to Network World, the FCC is about to have an auction that could bring in $20 billion to the U.S. Treasury:

The five-member FCC is considering the question of unlocking cell phones and creating more cell phone portability as it considers a wide range of rules for an auction of the 700MHz spectrum band likely to be held next January.

For those of you who didn’t know, it’s the FCC’s job to delegate the use frequencies in the United States to meet all radio frequency requirements from cell phones to wireless networks, to amateur radio, and anything else that deals with radio waves.

This auction would in turn would govern who, what, and how this portion frequency can be used – whether it be open or wholesaled. As unlocked phones are also under the jurisdiction of the FCC, it has been suggested that the they make it a requirement for cell providers to fully disclose the cost of a phone as well as the exact amount of its subsidization with the goal being to inform the consumer to give them true choice rather than paying for a phone over many months as a hidden cost!

Read about the upcoming FCC auction and it’s impact for unlocked phones over at Network World.

Technorati Tags: FCC, Auction, Spectrum, Unlocked Phones, JAMM, Just Another Mobile Monday