Net neutrality advocates are pressing the FCC to adopt "openness" principles in rules for the 700 MHz auction, in addition to urging that the agency require auction winners to adopt net neutrality principles. Net neutrality supporters sent the FCC nearly 250,000 letters on open access Mon., following up previous filings urging buildout requirements and limits on incumbents' participation in the auction. The campaign urges the FCC to require all licensees to carry Internet and voice traffic without degradation and allow consumers to use any equipment that doesn't cause interference.

Without FCC action, the "consequences to the Internet, and to consumers, could be disastrous," said a filing by the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC), which includes 8 groups that lobbied for net neutrality legislation last Congress. "I think there is more interest" in considering rules that would require wholesale open access, said Michael Calabrese, vp-New America Foundation, a coalition member. Frontline endorsed the idea in its filing -- so at least one business believes the idea wouldn't hurt it competitively, he said, though it would be difficult to include net neutrality rules in the auction regulations, which the FCC hopes to issue by July, he acknowledged...

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