• Ars Technica, Friday, September 14, 2007 11 AM

The Federal Communications Commission didn't exactly please everybody in setting the rules for the 700MHz auction: Google requested four rules for open access to ensure its participation, while big telecom didn't want the FCC to open the spectrum at all. In the end, the industry overseer adopted two of Google's proposals, to mixed reactions.

Google didn't get what it wanted, but neither did the telecoms. Nevertheless, the winner of the so-called "open" piece of spectrum must allow any device to run on that network. An irked Verizon Communications immediately issued the following statement: "Imposing any such requirements in the competitive wireless market would reduce the revenue the government will receive from the spectrum auction and limit the introduction of new and innovative wireless services." The American carrier is now bringing the matter to court, asking that the open access requirements be stripped from the auction rules.

Google, of course, was critical of Verizon's decision, accusing the company of using the court system "to try to prevent consumers from having any choice of innovative services," said Chris Sacca, Google's head of special initiatives.

Read the whole story at Ars Technica »