Verizon finally gets 700 MHz assets

The Federal Communications Commission gave final clearance to Verizon Wireless' $4.7 billion purchase of a nationwide collection of regional licenses at the 700 MHz auction earlier this year, refusing Google's request to impose a stronger open-access condition and revising a key component of its merger review policy. FCC Commissioners Copps and Adelstein expressed measured support for more clarity. "When we voted to establish service rules for that spectrum, we both expected that the C-Block winner would observe the openness rules for its own devices as well as those sold by third parties," the commissioners stated. "And we believe today that the language in the commission's rules establishes this legal requirement. However, to the extent that any parties believe the language is not clear enough, we would have preferred that the commission dispel any potential confusion by making this point directly in today's item." One public-interest group urged the FCC to stay on the case regarding open access. "CTIA's flip-flop — coupled with the continued blocking and locking practices of the wireless networks — reminds us that we need the FCC to remain a vigilant cop on the beat protecting consumers with clear, enforceable openness rules," said Ben Scott of Free Press.