Verizon Wireless abandons fight over 700MHz auction rules

Worried that Verizon's complaints about the open-access rules in the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction would shake things up in a negative way? As of now, your anxiety is apparently unfounded. According to The New York Times, Verizon Wireless has "abandoned its legal challenge of the Federal Communications Commission's rules for its auction of radio spectrum, removing a potential obstacle to the much-anticipated sale." Interestingly, there's not a lot of backstory as to why the carrier suddenly decided that pressing on wasn't in its best interests, but we'll accept the white flag, regardless.

[Via ZDNet]

[brad @ Oct 25th 2007 9:35AM]

so it seems they have finally stopped working for us

[opus @ Oct 25th 2007 9:36AM]

Oh they just shifted the heavy lifting over to the K street firm that lobbies for them in DC. Seems that all of the consternation was creating a PR problem. A recent brand study showed that VZW had an uptick in unfavorable impressions among consumers. They've just gone stealth with the complaints.

[Todd @ Oct 25th 2007 10:41AM]

That sounds right - Or Google flashed them some potential numbers of what location based advertising on a 700MHz device/phone could bring in. After putting their eyeballs back in their head, Verizon immediately started fast tracking their own gPhone with GPS.

[blomster-2007 @ Oct 25th 2007 9:42AM]

Verizon dropped their suit, but then CTIA filed one. However, CTIA says they don't want their suit to delay the auction.

[Jose @ Oct 25th 2007 11:39AM]

I think the reason for the drop was because they are actually changing their CDMA to GSM they got the hint that CDMA was not the way to go. they announced the change to the share holders.

[contreras @ Oct 25th 2007 12:57PM]

There was not restriction of technology for that band. I think the problem is that there is no business case at the moment. There is no technology defined for that band, nor terminals. To get this band implies to choose the technology (HSPA, CDMA EV-DV, LTE, etc) in that frequency and develop it together with the terminals for that band. This would be a very risky business, even more than that of Sprint trying to offer WiMAX as a "4G" technology (makes no sense...)

[Ozbone @ Oct 25th 2007 6:15PM]

Verizon ? Abandon? I seriously doubt that. More likely they're working to make a back room deal.

[Dan @ Oct 25th 2007 10:35PM]

I bet Verizon dropped their complaints with the FCC as part of them being given immunity for the spying.