Sounds like
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is open to the idea of open access on the 700 MHz band of the wireless spectrum. The 700 MHz spectrum is the holy grail of wireless, because of its ability to travel longer distances and penetrate thick walls. Currently, the 700MHz spectrum is used by TV signals, and it'll be available to cell-phone and wireless companies after TV's forced move to digital broadcasting happens next year.
If the provision were to be adopted, open access would force whomever owns the 700 MHz band to allow any device or software application to operate on that band, effectively forcing a carrier to operate primarily on an unlocked device principle. Members of CTIA (like
Verizon and
AT&T) feel like it's a forced regulation, but never mention that it would help consumers.
We feel like the FCC chairman is right in forcing them to allow any device to use the spectrum. We'd love to use the newest iteration of the Chocolate, the Sidekick or any other device on whichever network we feel is best, although of course T-Mobile and Verizon love the fact that we can only use their network by using "approved" phones. We'll see where it goes, but we feel like lobbying efforts might get in the way of these open-access provisions.
