Telecom giants criticized for blocking competing services/House Panel Divided Over Auction Plans

HOUSE PANEL DIVIDED OVER AUCTION PLANS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
House lawmakers were divided Wednesday over how the FCC should craft rules governing a major upcoming spectrum auction, underscoring the challenges that lie ahead for the agency's five commissioners. House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) reiterated at a hearing that he is encouraged by a proposal from FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to impose limited consumer-friendly restrictions on the auction. But other Democrats, including full committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), suggested Chairman Martin hasn't gone far enough. Subcommittee ranking member Fred Upton (R-MI) and other GOP members, meanwhile, warned against imposing burdensome restrictions on an industry they already consider competitive and innovative.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/07/house_panel_divided_over_aucti.html

* Dingell Statement:
Chairman Dingell expressed concerns about early termination fees, billing practices and roaming agreements for small carriers.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110st65.shtml

* Markey: Wireless Innovation and Consumer Protection is Critical to Bright Wireless Future
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2954&I...

* Markey chastises iPhone over termination fees
http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=1010720

* Democrats criticize AT&T's exclusive iPhone deal
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9742441-7.html

* Lawmaker chastises iPhone over termination fees
http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=14184

* Verizon Wireless exec opposes open access idea
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Verizon Wireless's general counsel urged Members of Congress to reject proposals that would impose open-platform requirements on valuable wireless airwaves that are scheduled to be auctioned off soon by the government. Steve Zipperstein said at a congressional hearing that consumers ultimately would suffer if the government forced the winner of the auction to make some of the airwaves accessible using any device or software application.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1130332820070711

* Verizon Says FCC Proposal May Reduce Auction Revenue
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=am3zhG2UJzNw&refer=t...

* Maybe There Needs To Be A 700 MHz Auction Primary?
[SOURCE: TelecomWeb, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.telecomweb.com/tnd/24187.html

* Lawmakers: New wireless rules needed
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/07/11/New-wireless-rules-needed_1.html

* FCC Auction Should Allow for Open Wireless Network, Say Lawmakers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR200707...

* Martin's Proposed Auction Rules Scrutinized
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/07/martins_auction_plans_called_g.html

TELECOM GIANTS CRITICIZED FOR BLOCKING COMPETING SERVICES
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless and other major telecom carriers are coming under fire for blocking tech companies' services from their networks. Some technology companies accuse the telecom carriers of dictating what can and can't be offered on their wireless networks, stifling innovation and competition. Research in Motion Ltd., which wants to offer new video, music and mapping services over its popular Blackberry devices, is tangling with AT&T, which denied RIM from offering a free mapping service because the carrier plans to offer its own subscription-based version. The tech companies, as well as consumer groups, say customers will lose out if telecom carriers can block rival services on their networks because consumers will have fewer choices of services and providers. They're asking the federal government to intervene and open up the wireless networks.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_6350524

* Disconnect phone, provider
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070712/edit12.art.htm

ACCESS ON THE AIRWAVES
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Federal Communications Commission plans to auction off the electromagnetic equivalent of beachfront property: a set of frequencies ideal for lucrative wireless broadband and mobile communications services. Now, as the commission debates the rules for those frequencies, it's being lobbied hard by two powerful, opposing forces. Existing mobile phone companies want the rules to support a restricted-access approach to broadband, while tech companies want to open the beach to all comers. The point isn't to raise the most money for the Treasury, it's to generate the broadest public benefit from these valuable public airwaves. FCC Chairman Martin's proposal could inspire the same kind of inventiveness that's been a hallmark of the Web. Still, his draft doesn't go far enough. The FCC should also require winning bidders to provide wholesale access to their networks, at least for the frequencies in question. That's the best way to increase competition in broadband.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-fcc12jul12,1,325...
(requires registration)