NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS   RESOURCES  
Small Claims Guide   Class Actions   Lemon Laws   FAQ   Newsletters  
Share


Complain about a product or service

Automotive    Education    Employment    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Insurance    Pets    Shopping    Travel     Print This     Email This    



NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

Verizon Wireless Challenges Spectrum Auction Rules

Telecom giant opposes "open access" conditions supported by Google





by Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 14, 2007

Broadband Access

Federal Court Tosses Out FCC Rule On Cable Caps
New Bill Gives FTC Veto Power Over Broadband Caps
Time Warner Cable Changes Contracts To Favor Bandwith Caps
Time Warner Cable Backs Down On Bandwith Caps
Time Warner: Metered Broadband Will Prevent "Internet Brownouts"
FCC Launches National Broadband Internet Plan
Time Warner Doubles Down on Metered Broadband Plans
FCC Pressed To Defend Wireless Open Internet
Time Warner Expands Metered Broadband Billing
New Jersey Sues Verizon Over Deceptive FiOS Marketing
Government Reveals First Steps For Broadband Plans
House Committee Slams FCC Chairman for "Deception and Distrust"
Obama Promises to "Renew Information Superhighway"
Dell Introduces "White Spaces" Capable Laptops
FCC Votes to Open "White Spaces" for Use
Congress Passes Broadband Data Improvement Act
Report: Metered Broadband Bad For Consumers, Businesses
FCC Votes to Punish Comcast for Content Blocking
Comcast Tries to Polish Its Image
Communications Industry Urges Congress to Act on Broadband
Comcast Cuts Deal With Vonage on Internet Traffic
Court Upholds FCC's Video Rules
Report: U.S. Broadband Adoption Slowing
Critics: FCC Inaction Slows Economic Development
Few Are Neutral in Net Neutrality Battles
Google Petitions FCC Over Verizon's Use of Wireless Spectrum
---
More ...

Verizon Wireless has gone to court to overturn the rules for the Federal Communications Commission's upcoming auction of wireless spectrum.

The telecom giant opposes the FCC's "open access" rules, which mandate that any suscriber can use any wireless handset with any network, and that consumers should be free to download any software they want from the network.

In a filing with the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., Verizon charged that the rules adopted by the FCC exceeded the commission's authority, and were "arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by substantial evidence, and otherwise contrary to law."

The sparse filing did not detail Verizon's claims, and Verizon representatives did not provide further comment.

The "open access" conditions were part of a deal offered by Google, which promised to bid $4.6 billion in the spectrum auction if the FCC agreed to support principles for four types of open platforms to be used with the new spectrum.

When the FCC agreed to support only two of the four principles as rules for the auction, Google praised the decision and indicated it might bid in the auction nonetheless.

Google's Chris Sacca criticized Verizon's move on his company's public policy blog, saying that it was "regrettable that Verizon has decided to use the court system to try to prevent consumers from having any choice of innovative services."

"The nation's spectrum airwaves are not the birthright of any one company," said Sacca. "They are a unique and valuable public resource that belong to all Americans."

Net neutrality

The wireless spectrum auction represents a key front in the continuing battle over net neutrality, the principle that consumers should be free to access all content equally on the Internet without interference.

Major telecoms such as Verizon and AT&T wanted the auction to be held without any conditions, in the hopes that they would be the preeminent bidders and be free to buy up the spectrum for new services.

Consumer groups wanted the spectrum made available for entreprenurial companies to develop wireless broadband Internet networks--a fabled "third pipe" that would compete with existing cable and telecom Internet services.

Although the FCC's compromise rules fell short of the "third pipe" goal, they were still a significant step to challenging the wireless market's strict control over what software and systems consumers can use on their phone. Although both AT&T and Verizon staunchly opposed Google's "open access" platform, the tide turned when AT&T agreed to support the compromise rules championed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin.

Early termination

The FCC has also promised to investigate punitive "early termination fees" levied by wireless, cable, and Internet companies against subscribers who cancel their contracts early.

The move was spurred by legislation introduced in the Senate that would put an end to the fees and mandate clear disclosure of what fees companies can charge to consumers.



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share

Follow us on Twitter.

FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!





CONSUMER NEWS

SAFETY RECALLS

Back to the top |

Advertisement


Custom Search
AUTOMOTIVE
• Dealers
• Manufacturers
• Service
• Extended Warranties
• Lemon Laws
• Recalls
• Tires
• Transporters

FAMILY
• Aging
• Children, Parenting
• Recalls
• Dating
• Education
• Entertainment
• Pets
• Weddings
FINANCE
• Annuities
• Banks
• Credit Cards
• Debt Collection
• Debt Counseling
• Insurance
• Investing
• Loans
• Mortgages
• Payday Loans
• Student Loans
• Tax Prep

HEALTH
• Doctors
• Drugs, Pharmacies
• Health Clubs
• Hearing Care
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Nutrition, Diets
• Vision Care
• Weight Loss
HOUSE & HOME
• Appliances
• Cookware
• Furniture
• Home Improvements
• Lawn & Garden
• Movers
• Pools & Spas
• Realtors, Rental Agents
• Recalls
• Utilities

ELECTRONICS
• Cable TV/DBS
• Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Home Electronics
• Internet Access
• Local Phone Service
• Long Distance
• VoIP
SHOPPING
• In-Home
• Online
• Retail Stores
• Sporting Goods
• Supermarkets
• Telemarketers

TRAVEL
• Airlines
• Bus Lines
• Car Rental
• Cruises
• Hotels
• Travel Agents
• Trains

RESOURCES
• Class Actions
• Complaint Form
• Small Claims Guide
• Lemon Laws
CONSUMER NEWS
• Latest News
• Automotive
• Telecom
• Financial
• Health
• Homeowners
• Scams
• Seniors
• Travel
• More ...

RECALLS
• Automotive
• Children's Products
• Drugs
• Food
• Household Products
• Sporting Goods

ABOUT US
• FAQ
• Privacy Policy
• Advertise With Us
• Newsroom
• Syndication
• Terms of Use

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.