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FCC Ruling to Test Google Power

Techies’ lobbying tactics on wireless auction vex old guard

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Jul 30, 2007 9:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – The FCC will rule tomorrow on whether an upcoming airwaves auction will require its winner to build an open-access network, and the verdict will test Google’s lobbying prowess, the Washington Post reports. Google has been pushing the open network aggressively, to the chagrin of AT&T and Verizon, mustering support from public interest groups and consumer advocates.

In its first major foray into the regulatory wars, Google offered to spend at least $4.6 billion at the auction for the airwaves to build the open network, if the FCC rules in its favor. The company spent only 3% of the lobbying dollars that AT&T dropped in 2006, but its unconventional strategy, deploying bloggers, engineers and even game theorists, seems to have scored with the FCC chairman.

Two women walk past a Google sign at the Google campus in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Google Inc. is expected to release quarterly earnings on Thursday, July 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff... (Associated Press)

Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google, chats with a friend during lunch at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Thursday, July 12, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Google Inc. is expected to release... (Associated Press)

Sergey Brin, co-founder and president of Google, smiles at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Thursday, July 12, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Google Inc. is expected to release quarterly earnings... (Associated Press)

A Google sign is posted at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. in this April 19, 2007 file photo. Google Inc. is seeking help from the U.S. government to fight the rise of Web censorship worldwide.... (Associated Press)

Exhibitors of the Google company work on laptop computers in front of an illuminated sign of the Google logo at the industrial fair Hannover Messe in Hanover, Germany,in this April 17, 2007 file photo.... (Associated Press)

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FCC Ruling to Test Google Power

Techies’ lobbying tactics on wireless auction vex old guard

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Google • FCC • Verizon • network • net neutrality • airwaves • AT and T

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Google, Verizon Deal May Kill Net Neutrality

Agreement could pave the way for priority internet packages

Crickets Likely at FCC Discount Airwave Auction

Main waves to draw billions, but not so for public/private spectrum

Airwaves Sale to Break Open Cell Phone Biz

New access could loosen grip of telecom giants

Verizon Challenges New Network Neutrality Rules

Company thinks FCC overstepped its authority

Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality

FCC's draft regulations 'worse than nothing'

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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