The vote is in

[capt. ahab]

Just heard on CNN that the FCC vote is in. Looks like Google got what it wanted. :biggrin:

[Scandiman]

I look forward to seeing the full details soon!

[acc]

Just heard on CNN that the FCC vote is in. Looks like Google got what it wanted. :biggrin:
Not quite according to this article: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWAT00794920070731?feedType=RSS&rpc=22&sp=true


The Federal Communications Commission voted to shake up the wireless market by approving a set of ground-rules for the upcoming auction that would require the winner to make them accessible to any phone, other device or application.


The requirement will apply to the 22 megahertz to be sold to a commercial provider, however Republican FCC commissioners noted it would not apply to existing airwaves held by carriers like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.
The agency suggested a $4.6 billion minimum price for the new block of commercial airwaves and said if that price was not reached, then the airwaves would be auctioned again without the access requirement.


The agency stopped short of a broader requirement sought by potential bidder Google Inc. that would have forced the winner to resell access to its network on a wholesale basis.
But the positive gist of it is that the spectrum will require access by all kinds of devices. It's the wholesale pricing structure that is still evidently to be determined - may be to be set by the market and not by government. THat's good capitalism.

[thinking1]

I don't have access to a TV right now but all the news I have read agrees with ACC and that this wasn't exactly what Google wanted.

[capt. ahab]

I thought open access was what Google wanted. ( edit)-- After reading more news on this I see what you mean.

"The agency stopped short of a broader requirement sought by potential bidder Google Inc. that would have forced the winner to resell access to its network on a wholesale basis."

Damn CNN got me all excited...

[hedgefund]

I thought open access was what Google wanted. ( edit)-- After reading more news on this I see what you mean.

"The agency stopped short of a broader requirement sought by potential bidder Google Inc. that would have forced the winner to resell access to its network on a wholesale basis."

Damn CNN got me all excited...

IMHO, the whole sale issue is not that important compared to others. What's important is that a user can purchase any handsets that can be used with any carriers, and users can install any application on their handsets as they wish.