The rules are yet to be published, but the consensus in the technology press is that Google and other proponents of more consumer choice in wireless services only received a partial victory on
Tuesday after the Federal Communications Commission released its rules for its next spectrum auction, set for January 2008. As expected, the auction winner of one-third of the 700 MHz spectrum will be
required to open it to any wireless service provider, accessible to the owners of any handset, regardless of the carrier.
Google, the open initiative's biggest lobbyist, received just
two of the four conditions it sought. Following the announcement of the FCC's new rules, Google Washington counsel Richard Whitt said the news indicated some "real benefits" for consumers (and
Google), although Google would have to study the rules more closely once they're published to determine whether the search giant will bid $4.6 billion in the auction. That's the minimum bid to compete
in the auction, which many believe will deter smaller players.
Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay, whose Skype Internet telephony service stands to benefit from the outcome, also
hailed the open provisions.
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