An interesting bidding war is forming in small town Illinois over WiMAX spectrum. The Mt. Vernon Township High School Board (MVTHSB) of Mt. Vernon, Illinois finds itself in a good position as owner of some WiMAX educational broadband service (EBS) spectrum.
Initially, Mt. Vernon Net, a local ISP, approached the MVTHSB to lease their WiMAX spectrum. But as the Mt. Vernon Register News points out, Mt. Vernon Net was not the only interested party. Here comes Buzz Broadband, a Fenton, MO broadband provider who wants in too. “The EBS spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless operators,” Chip Gaskins of Buzz Broadband told the Mt. Vernon Register. Turns out the MVTHSB now has other inquiries as well, and has put off a decision until September 20th so they can evaluate all offers. It’s a good time to be the MVTHSB.
The story is illustrative of the appeal of WiMAX and wireless broadband beyond just major metro areas. Service providers of all sizes are looking for ways to deliver competitive broadband services, and wireless spectrum is a huge enabler of that. It’s a valuable commodity. Just ask the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board.
