Verizon files lawsuit over open-access rules in 700MHz auction

Talk about gettin' riled up. Verizon Wireless has reportedly "challenged in federal appeals court the FCC's 700 MHz open-access rules," claiming that the auction "violates the US Constitution, violates the Administrative Procedures Act, and is arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by the substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law." Once you're done swallowing that mouthful, it'll likely be difficult to resist rolling your eyes, as it's pretty clear whose interests are being looked after in the suit. Nevertheless, neither Verizon Wireless nor an FCC spokesman would comment further on the filing, but needless to say, at least one carrier isn't exactly kosher with that succulent 22MHz block of spectrum being so open.

[Eric @ Sep 13th 2007 5:41PM]

Verizon can go to hell and kiss my ass. Bunch of idiots. Worst customer service after Sprint's.

[Paul @ Sep 13th 2007 6:47PM]

To further bring home their point, Verizon's chief council laid face down on the floor and kicked and swung his arms around in a flailing action. Prompting one onlooker to comment "So what do you think about Quizno's for lunch?"

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 13th 2007 7:03PM]

they can totally smell the end nearing.

hmmmm... free wireless or paid wireles... "gosh, but the cell companies have that ph so wonderful customer service, that makes it worth paying for!"

[Nick @ Sep 14th 2007 11:17AM]

If they dont like it.. then they dont have to bid. The FCC hasn't put a gun to Verizons head and forced them to put up a bid for something they aren't happy with.

[Andrew @ Sep 13th 2007 5:44PM]

I have Verizon's cell service because it is the best, but they are absolutely the most money grubbing company I have ever seen.

[Darkest Daze @ Sep 13th 2007 7:05PM]

I can absolutely say they have the best coverage available, but as soon as any other company can get to where they are at this point, I will switch faster than Speedy Gonzales after some cheese. Their phone selection sucks, the ones that are half-decent are crippled, their services are overpriced and restrictive ($80 for smartphone plan but 5gb limit, instead of umlimited), and now they solidify their "we hate our customers" with this.

The only company I won't switch to will be AT&T since they've screwed me over worse than Verizon has. At least Verizon provides what they claim, they just don't claim a lot in the first place.

[Cole @ Sep 13th 2007 5:45PM]

I think that vz is complaining that the auction itself is illegal on the basis that it prevents competition. So isn't vz making it more open.

[C. Espo @ Sep 13th 2007 5:50PM]

i think i speak for everyone when i say F&%* YOU VERIZON

[Todd @ Sep 13th 2007 6:19PM]

I would have used the Kathy Griffin style "You can suck it, Verizon!"

This is going to get a lot nastier as we approach the auction day. It's great to see the evil telcos with their panties all in a knot at the mere mention of Google participating in the auction.

"Hooray for competition!"

[Paul @ Sep 13th 2007 6:50PM]

It's simple, Verizon lives in bizarro world. How else could you explain their glee at "saving" their customers from the horror that is iPhone. "We know our customers enjoy our Verizon brand-laden, epilepsy inducing, customer "friendly" software which only disables 30% of our phone's native functionality.

[Andrew @ Sep 13th 2007 8:31PM]

It's like a brotherhood of verizon haters, i feel right at home.

[Ozbone @ Sep 13th 2007 5:56PM]

No surprise here - Verizon has alot ... ALOT ... to loose from this plan. Which, of course, means it HAS to be good for us.

[Andy @ Sep 13th 2007 6:00PM]

very cool

[D Holt @ Sep 13th 2007 6:13PM]

Why is it very cool? Or should I ask 'Andy, are you a moron?' No, I'll be polite - lets go with the first option.

[waiownsyou @ Sep 13th 2007 6:01PM]

Wow, Verizon's cell phones really suck but they sure are brave to sue a Federal Commission... GL to them!

[Jeremy Smith @ Sep 13th 2007 6:06PM]

Well done Verizon... Now everyone hates you AND Universal.

[Alexander @ Sep 13th 2007 6:08PM]

verizon cant you be nice once you let the iphone pass

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 13th 2007 6:08PM]

Screw you, Verizon.

Is my new every two due yet? No? Good.

Screw you, Verizon!

[Alexander @ Sep 13th 2007 6:09PM]

by the way I have verzion only cause my parents(im 16 years old) moto q is fun though but iphone rules

[D Holt @ Sep 13th 2007 6:10PM]

Unbelievable. Understandable and kind of logical on some levels but still unbelievable. Is Verizon really that afraid of the possibilities of the open access frequency? Well, YES I guess they are. But surely Verizon (and the other carriers) are providing us with value for money, great service and lots of value added extras just to negate any kind of loss from new entries into the market? Oh wait...no.

Instead of tying this thing up in court why dont they concentrate on getting the little things right like billing, fair service plans, reliable service, customer service, service in english...

Truly telecomms are the most hated of companies.

[Phour ZwanZig @ Sep 13th 2007 9:22PM]

Or they can Bid on it too, and maybe win, in which they can just not use it and screw everyone..

[andrews @ Sep 14th 2007 10:35AM]

Okay now that sounds like it would totally suck. I hope they don't get any ideas like that!

[Javi0084 @ Sep 13th 2007 6:19PM]

Verizon is scared of competition. What did they try to do to Vonage? You'd figure a big company like Verizon has enough money to stay competitive but looks like they want to use all their funds in court.

I hope they lose and go bankrupt.

[Phour ZwanZig @ Sep 13th 2007 9:24PM]

They prob dont have alot of Revenue left, due to the fact in some states they are starting up IPTV or whatever with runnin Fiber to the house..

Fiber splicing and maint isnt cheap my friends..

[Eric @ Sep 13th 2007 9:42PM]

Amen!

To Phour ZwanZig: You mean FiOS? Yeah it might be expensive to splice fiber, but hey, they wanted to get in that game right? Because it's expensive to them it doesn't mean they have to sue the gov't.

[Charles T. Wrye @ Sep 13th 2007 6:20PM]

The really sad thing is they might actually win the case.

[newgalactic @ Sep 13th 2007 6:27PM]

Getting an iPhone for Christmas. I currently have Verizon, but I'm interested in supporting GSM. Why? The rest of the world has it and it allows you to switch out any phone with your SIM card. I hate Verizon's software hobbled phones. Though I will miss their more extensive network. Oh well, I guess you have to make sacrifices to support the technology you like. It'll be a triple sting for Verizon when I leave too. I currently have Verizon for my land line phone and highspeed internet cause I get a discount with the bundle. I don't want to lose that discount, so I'm going to have to also switch over to AT&T for landline and DSL when I get the iPhone. Sorry Verizon, you brought it on yourself.

[Bizo @ Sep 13th 2007 6:36PM]

STFU Verizon

[waiownsyou @ Sep 13th 2007 6:55PM]

"Can you hear me now? No? WTF! IT MUST BE THAT DAMN OPEN-ACCESS. SUE THEM! NOW!"

[Sunjay @ Sep 13th 2007 7:06PM]

Heaven forbid Verizon faces more legitimate competition and is required to begin caring about customers and product offerings. Assholes.
Competition benefits consumers - it is too bad most corporations appear to not give a shit about this.

[Dan @ Sep 13th 2007 7:34PM]

I agree that it is too open. All of the current carriers have to bid in spectrum in each region they want to use certain frequencies. This would allow a company to operate in ANY market. This gives them a great advantage in not having to try to buy the frequencies in the specific markets they are trying to gain coverage in.

[Bogdan @ Sep 13th 2007 8:04PM]

How about "Donate to Google to help them fight for 700Mhz spectrum auction" button on a front page of Engadget? I would love to help them in their incentive.

[Phour ZwanZig @ Sep 13th 2007 9:26PM]

Nah, Google doesnt need ANYONEs money.. lol.. They seem to hold their own.. I mean, come-on, theyve been growing into different areas.. Ads must really bring in some dough or something..

[digitallysick @ Sep 13th 2007 9:56PM]

"open access rules" so they are saying they deserve the right to resell that network, yeah right, it was verizon and other telcos that got the fcc ruling overturned, which destroyed the competition, and now we have ma'bell all over again. So one day they say "it costs us to much to allow other providers to sell services over our network" , and now they want to do the same to google, wtf

[qtip @ Sep 13th 2007 11:48PM]

This is exactly why I dropped Verizon 9 years ago.

[Murc @ Sep 14th 2007 1:05AM]

I hate verizon ever since they stole $236 from me. Its a long story....the end of the story is short......F*ck You Verizon!

[andrews @ Sep 14th 2007 10:39AM]

This is why I do not own a cell phone. I know, I must be a dinosaur or something, but the deals they give people are total crap. You pay almost twice the advertised price in all the rediculous fees that should be covered in the plan but ohhh no, they have to pass that on to you as well. And then they a$$ rape you on these b.s. "minutes" and then the roaming when it costs the same to put a tower anywhere. The rant could go on, but I will wait until the cost isn't so stupid. like maybe the 700MHz thing.

[BOB KING @ Sep 14th 2007 6:37PM]

I think this whole open 700 network is a great idea on paper, but when I comes to realworld I can see it being more trouble then its worth on many different levels, and this go for all service providers.
The first one would be well I just blew 10 million dollars to get this 700 mhz band, and now I have to let everyone use it and not charge them so now I'm out that X millions of dollars. I guess I'll just have to jack up my rates on other customer and on the roaming agreements I have with OSP.
The next issue would be that each provider test each handset before launch ya you can say this phones still dont work correctly after launch but trust me it could be worse. Currently the reason why Verizon has not launch the 6800 or th 5800 is because of software issues that have crash the network in some areas. So ya when you but that 700 MHZ open access handset and you cant get it to work because the network is down who are you going to b!tch to your service provider.
Another issue each service provider would have to condent with is keeping things working correctly in the 700 MHZ range that means more man / woman power that in turn means less money for the company.


But sure have at it you know who really want cell phone service to work with any service provider.