It looks like Verizon isn't taking those 700MHz spectrum open access rules very seriously, and a certain competing bidder isn't real happy. In a petition filed with the FCC by Google, the company alleges that Verizon is willfully ignoring the "plain meaning of the [open access] rule" by suggesting it will allow one type of access for users who use Verizon-approved devices, and another for those using third-party units. According to the document, "Verizon's position would completely reverse the meaning of the rule such that the open access condition would apply to none of Verizon's customers, and thereby render the condition a nullity." The search giant is calling for the FCC to block Verizon's $4.7 billion bid on the spectrum unless the company agrees to comply with the previously-decided open access rules. Since this isn't the first inkling we've had that Verizon wasn't down with open access, we're not surprised, but it looks like Google has a little more fight left in them -- and that could make all the difference. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via IP Democracy; Thanks, Bram]

Talk about wishful thinking. Ubiquiti -- a maker of wireless broadband gear we last saw breaking world records -- has announced the "world's first" 700MHz WiFi card, clearly hoping to get a head start on the feeding frenzy we all expect. The XR7, as it's called, is a compact radio module, which is built for the mini-PCI Type IIIA standard, has scalable channel bandwidths of 5 / 10 / 20 and 40 MHz, and 256-bit AES security. The company claims that the card can be a viable WiMAX replacement, as it's been tested for ranges of beyond 31 miles at rates of up to 50Mbps. No word on pricing or street date, mostly -- we suspect -- due to the fact that the frequency it operates on has yet to be made available. You'll know more when we do.

[Via dailywireless]

We know, the 700MHz soap opera is wearing a bit on us too, but just in case you were worried that the latest FCC shakeups would deter Google from coughing up $4.6+ billion when the time was right, fret not. Reportedly, Chief Executive Eric Schmidt "told a conference of regulatory and industry leaders in Aspen that his company would 'probably' move ahead with plans to bid for wireless spectrum freed up once broadcast television networks switch to digital from analog in 2009." When asked by T-Mobile USA's government relations chief Thomas Sugrue "whether Google planned to take part in the auctions for wireless broadband networks," the exec simply stated that placing a bid or two would likely be "the way to answer that." So, there you have it -- until next episode...

Hot on the heels of the "white space device" test flop of 2007 (i.e., last week's news) Microsoft is regrouping and firing back at the FCC's findings, claiming that the initial prototype was "defective," but a new model works correctly. In an attempt to convince US regulators that use of the soon-to-be-abandoned 700MHz spectrum is "safe" for wireless internet services, Microsoft (along with White Space Coalition cohorts such as Google and Intel) is claiming that the technology is sound and can work side by side with its broadcast television neighbors -- and they have proof. As you'll recall, the first round of tests apparently produced "static" on nearby channels -- leading the FCC to send the coalition packing -- but Redmond is claiming that a new study carried out by the airwave-controlling agency yielded positive results. So, what might have been a major wind-out-of-the-sails-moment for the 700MHz-champions is starting to look more like a healthy gust of air.

Just in case you had any suspicion that Google may retract its interest in bidding for the 700MHz spectrum after the rules neglected to afford the winner wholesaling rights, Chris Sacca has intervened to clear things up. According to the search giant's head of special initiatives, the firm is "still very interested in the auction" despite not getting all of the rules for the spectrum sale set in its favor. Of course, the FCC did choose to approve the whole "open access" bit, and while Mr. Sacca declined to elaborate in order to keep details of Google's strategy on the DL, it seems safe to say that it will indeed be busting out the checkbook come auction time.

In a move likely to have far reaching implications for both businesses and consumers alike, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has stated that whoever wins the forthcoming auction for the much-coveted 700 MHz spectrum must provide a "truly open broadband network." According to USA Today, Martin says that the only exceptions would be for "software that is illegal or could harm a network," leaving the network otherwise open for anyone to "use any wireless device and download any mobile broadband application, with no restrictions." The spectrum, being vacated by television broadcasters moving to digital TV, is expected to fetch some big bucks when it goes up on the auction block, with the FCC Chairman himself touting it as a "third pipe to the home." While Martin doesn't have any plans to extend the openness requirement to other parts of the wireless business, he does think this new move could pressure carriers to change their tactics, saying it "sends an important message."

[Via Phonescoop, photo courtesy of USA Today]