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FCC Turns Down Skype Petition

No one stands to benefit more from the opening of wireless networks than voiceover Internet Protocol providers like Skype. To that end, the eBay company last year asked the Federal Communications Commission to force wireless carriers to allow any device or application to run on their networks, a request that was basically a throwback to the landmark Carterfone decision of 1968--a decision that ultimately led to the (temporary) undoing of AT&T.

However, a funny thing happened while the FCC considered Skype's request: First Verizon, then AT&T, and finally, Sprint, announced they would open their networks, publishing the technical standards needed for devices and applications to access their networks.

Those decisions, chairman Kevin Martin said, prompted the FCC to turn down Skype's petition. "In fact, in less than a year, many of you have evolved from vocal opponents to vocal proponents, embracing the open platform concept for your entire networks," Martin said, adding: "it would be premature to adopt any other requirements across the industry."

Read the whole story at Ars Technica »

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