700 MHz open access rules could be watered down

Could the FCC's 700 MHz open access rules get watered down? FCC Chairman Kevin Martin reportedly is pushing for revisions to the open-access stipulations before the FCC itself completes a review of various regulatory challenges, namely a lawsuit from Verizon Wireless [1], according to an article in RCR Wireless News.

According to RCR's sources, Martin was unable to change the open-access conditions last week after one or more fellow commissioners recoiled at the idea. Now Martin reportedly is attempting to use a declaratory ruling to modify the open-access rules in a way that addresses Verizon Wireless' concerns.

According to a lobbying filing, Verizon Wireless said it told Martin and other agency officials the open-access conditions would "force C-block licensees to allow any and all lawful applications to be downloaded to any devices that licensees provide, including devices that are not configured to accommodate any and all lawful applications," and would "inhibit C-block licensees from differentially pricing a package of benefits, features and services (including customer service) made available with devices they provide, as compared to a package of services provided with non-licensee-supplied devices, and thus fail to recognize the different value propositions these different packages of services offer to customers."

For more:
- read this article [2] from RCR Wireless News

Related articles:
Google 'probably [3]' will bid in 700 MHz
FCC sets ground rules [4] for 700 MHz auction
Worries about a 700 MHz train wreck. Editorial [5]
Wireless spreads out with 700MHz. Editorial [6]