FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is proposing sweeping new rules for wireless airwaves the government is auctioning early next year, reports USAT. The 700 MHz spectrum, being vacated by TV stations as they go digital, has the ability to penetrate walls and other obstacles. According to the proposal, the mobile services in these airwaves would have to allow consumer choice, meaning “You can use any wireless device and download any mobile broadband application, with no restrictions,” Martin explained in the story.

The proposed rules would apply only to the spectrum being auctioned, not the rest of the wireless business, but would surely have a radical affect on the business...for example, he said Wi-Fi-in-handsets rollout is slower here, because carriers don’t want them. “I am concerned that we are seeing some innovations being rolled out more slowly here than we are in other parts of the world,” Martin said.

Meanwhile, in a rather open post, Google has come out with its thoughts on the spectrum auction, saying that it has not yet made up its mind on participating in the auction, though it says from its own analysis, it stands little chance of winning against the telco incumbents. It has however outlined four points that the winner should adhere to:

-- Open applications: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;
-- Open devices: consumers should be able to utilize a handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;
-- Open services: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and
-- Open networks: third parties (like internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at a technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network.