Since last year, Skype executives have been trying to get the FCC's consumer broadband principles (pdf) -- which state you can use any software or hardware you like on broadband networks -- applied to the wireless industry. Given all the talk by carriers, the press and the FCC about how we've turned the corner in the quest for open networks, you'd expect that such a demand would be a possibility, right? Wrong.

Speaking to wireless carriers at the CTIA wireless conference in Las Vegas, FCC boss Kevin Martin stated that the agency should reject Skype's request, given the FCC has already gone far enough in encouraging open access rules. He also stated that Verizon's new "open access" promises make such rules unnecessary:But in reality, the rules the FCC applied to the 700Mhz spectrum (now largely owned by Verizon) are only marginally enforceable and likely won't be much of an obstacle for Verizon lawyers and lobbyists. Meanwhile, Verizon's "open access" promise so far consists of little more than making actual consumer choice a high-price luxury tier. Neither guarantees much of anything when it comes to open wireless networks or consumer choice.

Martin's position also does nothing to ease the image that he's hard on the cable industry but gives preference to the major telcos. He's tough as nails when it comes to Comcast traffic shaping impacting competitors like Vuze, insisting that empty promises to cease throttling by year's end aren't enough. Yet here Martin is perfectly happy with Verizon's vague promises to open up their own network within the same time frame.