NOTHING COSTS MORE THAN IT USED TO...:

FCC Clears Free Wireless Web (AMY SCHATZ, 10/13/08, Wall Street Journal)

The FCC is expected to finalize rules this year and could begin auctioning off airwaves in early-to-mid 2009.

The report released Friday was bad news for T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, which uses airwaves that abut the chunk of spectrum that's set to be auctioned off. T-Mobile USA bought its spectrum for about $4 billion a few years ago.

T-Mobile has fought FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal to encourage development of free Web access by raising concerns that the service would disrupt the company's 3G wireless network, for which it charges customers.