700 MHz: Verizon begins the process of redefining “open”

Not to say we told you so, but we did. At the close of the 700MHz auction we predicted Verizon, the winner of the “open access” C block, would begin to redefine what is meant by the word “open”. Immediately after the auction, certain members of Congress friendly to to the Verzion / AT&T cause began blaming Google for undermining the outcome of the auction. I know believe that this was positioning ploy for what is yet to come from the winner (Verizon). Now, consider:

After Google pressured the FCC to apply some winning “open access” rules (pdf) onto the 700Mhz spectrum, there was ample media and blogger speculation that the rules would usher in a new age of wireless competition. Under the din of celebration, I warned that some legal experts who actually read the conditions were noting they weren’t very enforceable, and that Verizon Wireless’s promises for open access were really just an effort to make device/application freedom and choice a premium, luxury tier. (Broadband Reports)