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Open access is assured on 700MHz spectrum

So -- the infamous C block of 700MHz spectrum, the nationwide spectrum that television broadcasters formally used and that Google is bidding on, will officially carry open access rules. The auction had to reach $4.
Written by Richard Koman, Contributor

So -- the infamous C block of 700MHz spectrum, the nationwide spectrum that television broadcasters formally used and that Google is bidding on, will officially carry open access rules. The auction had to reach $4.6 billion and it did today, with a bid of $4.71 billion.

That may or may not be the winning bid -- and it will be weeks before we know whether Google will bid to win or will bow out now that they've gotten their open access rules.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said the open-access rules will spur an ``important transformation'' in the wireless industry. ``The openness requirement is important both in terms of the innovation it will lead to on the edges of the network and the ability of consumers to take advantage of that innovation,'' Martin said today during a briefing with reporters. (Bloomberg)

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