Thanks!

Verizon has announced plans to open its wireless networks to other devices and applications by the end of 2008. Good news? It’s a step in the right direction, but consumers deserve much more.

Verizon customers will be able to use non-Verizon cell phones and applications like GPS, but what about the rest of us? And how much will Verizon charge for this privilege?

Can Verizon Be Trusted?

Sascha Meinrath of the New America Foundation calls it a “piece of PR masterwork”: “In essence, Verizon is adding a corporate tax that goes straight into their coffers for the so-called “privilege” to run the services and applications you want, on the devices you’ve already bought and paid for.”

Verizon has a history of breaking consumer trust. Two months ago, they were caught censoring NARAL’s text messages. There’s no reason to believe that consumers can take this proposal at face value – especially since Verizon only recently dropped their lawsuit against the FCC opposing the very open-device model they now champion.

Last summer, the FCC imposed open-access principles on the wireless spectrum up for auction, mandating that any company that acquires this spectrum support an open platform. Since Verizon is planning to bid on this space, known as C block, they have agreed to open access.

Clearly, natural market forces did not pry open a closed network, public pressure did. More than 250,000 Americans told the FCC to open the public airwaves to all devices and applications, so the FCC responded by mandating open access. Verizon’s announcement shows that sound public policies in combination with marketplace demands can lead to a more open system.

Industry-Wide Open Access

The FCC should take the next step and require all phone companies to open their networks.

We can’t trust phone companies to give consumers the freedom and flexibility that we deserve. Only industry-wide open platforms will give consumers true open access, as Public Knowledge points out: “If other carriers don’t follow the same model, then consumers will still find their phones tied to a specific technology or wireless company.”

The FCC should guarantee consumers the same rights on wireless networks that they now have on landlines.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 2:32 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.