“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.