“The Federal Communications Commission approved rules for the upcoming auction of the 700 MHz airwave spectrum that granted only half of what Google had requested,” Carol Pinchefsky reports for eWeek.
Google requested that the FCC adopt four open platforms as a condition for any corporation or group trying to obtaining the spectrum license:
• Open applications: Consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content or services they desire
• Open devices: Consumers should be able to utilize a handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer
• Open services: Third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms
• Open networks: Third parties (like Internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network
“At the meeting, however, Chairman Kevin Martin agreed to implement only two of the four conditions: open applications and open devices. As an example, in 2009 consumers will have the freedom to take their cell phones from one network to another,” Pinchefsky reports.
“The result of the vote, taken at an open meeting in Washington on July 31, raises doubts as to whether Google will choose to join in the auction, which is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2008,” Pinchefsky reports.
Full article here.
Well 2 out of 4 is more than i was expecting
Commissioner Robert McDowell, in fact, cast his first dissent, objecting to the requirement of the open-access condition.
Well, everyone’s bread needs buttering, eh?
Are security issues at all at play here?
We have to stand up and protect the rights of our corporations. These rights are being eroded and weakened by special interest groups wanting more individual rights.
If we don’t stop these special interest groups soon, they will expect that each voting american should be entitled to some sort of representation.
Corporations are the heart and soul of our nation, and contribute more to our great nation than any single voting american could ever hope for. Therefore, these corporations should be praised, and given special compensation for providing the leadership and fronting the risk and liability of doing great things and producing great wealth that we individual Americans should only hope to obtain one day.
Corporations live the American dream, and only request our respect and admiration (and money of course).
Ohhhh… Andrew…. get ready for the MacDailyNews readers blasting away.
First from readers who don’t like individuals, and prefer corporations, next from idiots who can’t understand sarcasm, and then, from those who don’t like anyone…..
MDW Magic Word: hell…. I kid you not!
Andrew: that was brilliant.
You’ve been awarded this weeks:
Dank’s Best Post Award
It aint over til its over. I expect the FCC to roll over and cave to the lobby with the most money. That is the modern American way.
Screw the people, the lobby with the most money wins!
This is spectrum that has belonged to the American people, it’s where our free TV broadcasts have lived for years. Now we’re being sold out by our government.
Write to your representatives and let them know what you think.
Exactly Andrew. I see the sarcasm, but strange I didn’t see you up there lobbying for our rights to the FCC.
It’s all nice and good to yell down with big corporations and power to the individual, but please try to reach a hand out and grab a piece of reality. Are you going to go head to head with say Verizon in the FCC ballpark? You think you have a chance? Even if you could get 10,000 signatures on a petition, do you think that could compete with the lobbyists wining and dinning the decision makers?
Get a grip and choose a side. Back the lesser of the evils and get on with your life, because it’s too short and there are too many more important things to worry about than the 700mhz spectrum.
This is a critical issue. Google is a giant threat to the telcos. If Google gets a hold of this spectrum, the days of the extorting telcos will be over. I do not know enough about the details to figure out if Google got enough to work with to pull off their communications revolution. I’m going to track this one. It is a BFD.
a-holes
Thieves and liars, that’s who is regulating American business.
“At the meeting, however, Chairman Kevin Martin agreed to implement only two of the four conditions: open applications and open devices. As an example, in 2009 consumers will have the freedom to take their cell phones from one network to another,”
The last sentence is interesting. The end of locked cell phones? One thing to consider is that with the industry expanding into different areas the monopolistic actions are being restricted as time goes on. I’m waiting to see when prices go down because of more open competition.
Mission accomplished. The spectrum is more open that it would have been, and carriers are looking over their shoulders, scared to death of a Google bid.
Google may enter a bid with no intent on winning. But simply by virtue of placing a bid, will cause the carriers to place higher bids than they would have, thereby weakening their cash position.
Google to the rescue. This makes a Google partnership (replace cash) attractive, and gives Google the power to demand the remaining two points they requested of the FCC.
You see: closed services and closed networks will benefit the American people and let innovations thrive. That’s why they ruled this way. The FCC is looking out for you guys. You should be grateful.
When the opened the dam taking water from Ma Bell the first time, this how it started…first opening the devices. This is a good step.
Just my $0.02
I think Google knew they wouldn’t get all their requests the first time and knew maybe they got some if they put others that were more difficult to get approved. Google was ready for this, i bet it’s even part of their plan. They are not stupid.
What does this mean in regards to Apple’s exclusive contract with ATT?
Sorry, I understand now. Rules only apply to the 700 MHZ spectrum.
This when has this site become Google Daily News? What does this have to do with Mac?
Oops, meant to type Since instead of This in my last comment. Sorry
escaport. Is it, ‘winning and dinning’? Or, ‘wining and dining’?
I do like winning, but I love wine also.
It is a beginning! a chink in the armour…. By 2009 the market and good old USA will be ready for all four options as observing the EU implementation of all that up, running and working very very smoothly.
Since the 1st of August 2007, any EU mobile phone user can roam around the EU incurring very reduced roaming charges, the argument is that since you are within the EU, you are technically not out of one Country.
Why are Americans in different States being treated unequally when it comes to mobile phones?
Is not the USA one Country?
Of course when it comes to Medicaid, there certainly seem to be an “other class” of citizen, an “Underclass”.
Is this the Power house of the World?
DogGone:
I read it that a cell phone with company A will be able to still make/receive calls when out of range of a company A Cell-tower, when it is within range of a Company B Cell-tower. This presumes equivalent technologies. I may be wrong.
“I once thought I made a mistake – but I was wrong.”
Just a thought, I wonder if Apple itself might consider bidding in this auction of the airwave spectrum? They do have the cash lying around, not actually doing anything and it seems like they could make great usage out of it, perhaps even in a partnership with Google (whom I read was only willing to go up to 4 billion in the auction).
consider apple and google partnership with google doing the bidding and apple in the background with the iphone, ipod, and other new products and innovations waiting to lunge