Is Google interested in the 700 MHz D block?

Google claims to have bid aggressively in the recent 700 MHz auction and is now on record stating they will lobby to have open rules eset for the redo on the D block that did not have a successful bid.

“In ten of the bidding rounds we actually raised our own bid — even though no one was bidding against us — to ensure aggressive bidding on the C Block,” Google said. Active bidding ensured the rules designed to make these networks more open to independent Web services will be implemented, it said.

The Silicon Valley company also said it will weigh in on new rules the FCC may set as it re-auctions airwaves that are to be shared between public safety agencies and commercial service providers — the “D Block” in the auctions. (Yahoo)

The original D block rules were crafted to support the business model of a company formed by a few ex FCC cronies that in the end never manage to raise enough capital to play in the auction. There are a number of unanswered questions that should baeasked about how that progressed.

With Google back in play, we’re always hopeful that a new competitor will enter the market and build our Third Pipe. With the dominance of the telcos, ther are very few players with the capital to compete against such deep pockets. That is at least in the way the FCC currently runs auctions.