700MHz Spectrum Auction Chatter [Post-Bidding]

Bidders in latest FCC auction start talking

“The gag order that silenced those participating in the FCC’s auction that ended last month was lifted late Thursday (4/03). Now companies are free to discuss their plans and strategies for bidding in the auction.”

Yet its beginning to appear that part of the plans and strategies are to circumvent the FCC’s requirement for openness.

Speaking of Verizon in a later article, Marguerite Reardon tells us;

“But for all the lip service being paid toward wireless openness, the reality is quite different.”

“In November, Verizon announced it was launching a program that supposedly would allow any device or application to be certified for use on its network.”

“The company still doesn’t allow any device to connect to the network. Handset manufacturers still have to go through a certification process. In other words, if you wanted to use your old Sprint Nextel phone, which uses the same underlying CDMA network technology that Verizon’s network uses, you couldn’t.”

“Under this new model, Verizon still maintains control of which devices get on the network. This is completely different from how the traditional Internet operates.”

So much for wireless openness eh? Did we really expect anything different? Does it matter that some are paying attention? For example;

“Richard Whitt, Washington telecom and media counsel for Google, said in an interview with CNET News.com that he and his team are still evaluating Verizon’s open device program, but it seems clear from his definition of ‘open access’ that Verizon is falling short of expectations.”

How loud is your voice Richard? Will it reach Kevin Martin and, if it does, will Kevin Martin be simply a face, as many have said?

Whats that? Richard answers – “Clearly it would be great to say the carriers are always sensitive to consumers’ needs or that they want to maximize consumer welfare. But in many cases there will always be the need for Congress and the FCC at a minimum to provide careful oversight.”

Congress… yeah, sure, that’s it!