PC Magazine's Natali T. Del Conte takes a look today at M2Z Networks' plans for a free nationwide wireless broadband offering.

"Startup M2Z Networks, Inc. on May 5 submitted a request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a license to a vacant 20-megahertz band in order to broadcast free high-speed broadband Internet across the country," Del Conte writes. "To pick up the signal, users would need to purchase a M2Z-certified reception device that the company estimates will cost $250 or less as the technology evolves. According to the company, M2Z would be free to sell advertising across the network, as well as use the spectrum for other purposes."

"I think something needs to be done to deal with the broadband gap we have in the U.S. compared to other nations," says Bruce Sachs, a founding board member of M2Z and managing partner of Charles River Ventures. "Here, we are at 35 percent broadband penetration and countries like Korea are twice that. Ultimately, that gap will lead to gaps in everything from education to commerce. I think the project really addresses a big need in this country."