FCC Gives Google Two Out Of Four

The FCC issued the rules for the 700 MHz spectrum auction, electing not to follow Google’s $4.6 billion ultimatum. They did give Google half of what it got, siding half with the young tech firm that wants to bring the open spirit of the internet to wireless devices (and profit handsomely) and half with the old-school telecoms that want to close everything down and overcharge consumers in a monopoly (and profit handsomely).
The auction will require two of Google’s four provisions, those for open devices and open applications. That means, unlike the cell phone networks, devices shouldn’t be locked to the provider you got them from, and they shouldn’t be able to block applications from running so that they can force you to pay a fee for their poorer versions (cough*VCAST*cough).
On the other hand, Google won’t get the open services and open networks requirements, which, if you think about […]

Original post by Nathan Weinberg