Earlier today, we reported on Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) withdrawing its lawsuit against FCC on the spectrum auction rules. Now CTIA is immediately filling the void by challenging the same regulation in a suit filed at U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, reports RCR. One big boo for CTIA, whose rather-weak conference is going on in San Francisco this week (not sure if you’re feeling it, but this edition of the conference is growing weaker by the year..watered-down keynotes, very pedestrian pre-day mobile content conference, no major news coming out of it, etc.)

Anyway, back to the suit: CTIA “seek[s] to overturn certain aspects of the order that are at odds with prior commission rulings and with the realities of the competitive marketplace for wireless services.” I couldn’t find the lawsuit in the Pacer system online tonight, so don’t have more details, but assuming it is challenging the same aspects Verizon was.

Oh, also, CTIA president and CEO Steve Largent has a blog post challenging Walt Mossberg’s scathing column earlier this week about the wireless industry and the need to open up. Largent sticks to the party line: “Instead of writing about the old 2G world, [Mossberg would] see firsthand how we have moved into the 3G broadband world, where options open up for consumers.” Really? Maybe the phones he’s given by the operators…

Then this weak defense: “Wireless service providers are not the soviet ministries of old – they are dynamic players in a competitive market, working with partners to ensure that devices deliver what consumers expect, without bringing down cell sites...It’s unfortunate that Mr. Mossberg has fallen for the hollow argument that the U.S. is behind in wireless. In fact, wireless in the U.S. is dynamic, innovative, and working to deliver for consumers.” Consumers, he said? Oh, maybe he didn’t read about the lawsuit that Verizon Wireless settled today with NY AG.