Verizon warns against unnecessary U.S. auction rules

VERIZON WARNS AGAINST UNNECESSARY US AUCTION RULES
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Responding to the Federal Communications Commission's request for public comments, Verizon Communications says it opposes a proposal that would require the winner of an coming sale of wireless airwaves to offer "open access" to rivals. "We believe rules should not dictate a business plan. They should give every player a chance to bid on the spectrum," said Thomas Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president of public affairs and communications. Tauke was mum on exactly what kind of auction rules Verizon would prefer, but did take exception to one proposal that asked the FCC to designate half of the available spectrum as "open access." That means any company with a device or phone could pay to use or lease the winning bidder's network. Tauke said open access would diminish the value of the spectrum and likened it to a form of Internet regulation.
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN0736525220070508