Google: Verizon Watering Down 700Mhz RulesFCC's Martin apparently bending to VZ lobbyists... ( old news - 09:13AM Thursday Oct 04 2007) tags: competition · fcc · business · wireless · Verizon Wireless BroadbandGoogle and Verizon continue to squabble over the upcoming auction of 700Mhz spectrum, which could be used to provide a third inexpensive broadband option (but if you're betting at home, probably won't). Last month, the FCC released their auction rules for spectrum buyers, though the language contains intentional loopholes, allowing said rules to be wiggled around or through. Still, the slim risk that they might have to adhere to any pro-consumer carterfone guidelines is too big a risk for Verizon lawyers, who have sued the FCC over the rules. Reports last week also suggest that Verizon already has Martin watering down the language even further. Google, who says Verizon is violating FCC rules, is annoyed: Verizon appears to be arguing that two of the key provisions in the auction rules designed to spur competition — the requirements for open devices and open applications — should not apply to a licensee’s own devices that use this block of 700 MHz spectrum. Their theory is that so long as “unlocked” devices (those that can be configured to work with any network) are theoretically available to consumers through other means, the winning bidder in the auction shouldn’t be required to make its devices open as well. From our perspective, this view ignores the realities of the U.S. wireless market, where some 95 percent of handsets are sold in retail stores run by the large carriers. This comes a day after the GAO issued a report slamming the FCC for leaking information to lobbyists ahead of key votes.
Related:- Frontline Asks FCC to Ban Verizon from Spectrum Auction
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- So Much For The Talk of Open Wireless Networks
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- Clearwire Nabs New CEO
- Verizon LTE Network Completed By 2014?
- Verizon CEO Slams Sprint, Cable
- AT&T To Gobble Up Verizon/Alltel Divested Markets
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 |  | nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Re: Google has an easy choice - win the bid and set own rules said by LiamJunket  :... all they have to do is bid enough money to win the auction. Then they can set their own rules. ... this is true. The preferable (from a competition point of view) approach would be to put conditions (open access, etc.)on the spectrum, so no matter who wins there would likely be some new competition.
However, I would love to see Google outbid the telcos, but they start at an extreme disadvantage unless they don't care about recouping their investment in the spectrum. The telcos have the advantage of the "lock out" premium - there is the value of locking out competition over and above the nominal business value. If the telcos keep any competitors from winning spectrum, it's worth billions to then in monopoly profits.
that's actually the dirty little secret of this (and every other recent) auction and why the current rules are highly unlikely to result in any new competition (unless Google doesn't mind throwing away money). | |
| | axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC | Or they could try lobbying us and the FCC like Verizon does?
As a US citizen, I am a partial owner of all the spectrum in my country, and I support the ideas that Google has about the ways it should be licensed. | |
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Neyland85
join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Google has an easy choice - win the bid and set own rules said by axus :Or they could try lobbying us and the FCC like Verizon does? As a US citizen, I am a partial owner of all the spectrum in my country, and I support the ideas that Google has about the ways it should be licensed. The problem is as a US citizen and a partial owner of all the spectrum in your country, you don't have any real input.
Now that would be something though.. an elected FCC chairman... | |
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RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY
| Re: Google has an easy choice - win the bid and set own rules said by Neyland85 :The problem is as a US citizen and a partial owner of all the spectrum in your country, you don't have any real input. Now that would be something though.. an elected FCC chairman... There is always H. B. Piper's "A Planet for Texans" solution for Crocked Politicians. Under that system, Politicians are required to represent the interests of EVERY individual constituent. If a constituent disagrees with the actions of the Politician they have the LEGAL right/duty to register their disagreement face-to-face without any interference from 3rd parties. After the constituent has demonstrated their views, the Politician (or their Political Cronies if they are no longer able to themself) can bring charges in the "Court of Political Justice" of using excessive means to register the disapproval. At that time, the Court looks at the Politician’s actions and decides if they warranted the means used to register the disapproval. | |
| flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ | BAN VERIZON I think banning verizon altogether from the auction should fix all the problems.
Verizon likes to bitch and moan, well there. | |
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Smokey
I killed the Wabbit
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs: | Biding war I really hope that google gets in to that auction, if for no other reason than just to make verizon have to pay a pretty penny for what they want.
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Para Bellum!! | |
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Tugjunkie
@comcast.net
| Its our airwaves The sale of our assets to the highest bidder IS NOT always in our best interests despite what big business and lawyers may say... Otherwise we wouldn't have any beach front parks, or parks at all for that matter.
Based on the treatment we receive from the existing wireless carriers, I believe that these frequencies are too valuable to let fall into corrupt hands. | |
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Google has an easy choice - win the bid and set own rules
