Web 2.0 Summit: Wireless Auction

John Battelle (conference programming chair and chairman and publisher of Federated Media Publishing), Ram Shriram (partner, Sherpalo), Thomas J. Tauke (Verizon Executive VP) and Martin Varsavsky (FON founder/CEO) take the stage to discuss the 700 MGHZ MHz spectrum auction and the battle over network neutrality.

Shriram describes the 700 MGHZ MHz spectrum as beachfront property and the most exciting spectrum auction we’ll likely see for the next decade.

Verizon’s Tauke and Shriram are already sparring. Shriram mentions Verizon’s recent suit over the rules of the wireless auction. Tauke bristles, complains about the rules of the auction and seems to suggest that Verizon would like to move toward open access–presumably at its own glacial speed.

Shriram shakes his head. Either you have open access or you don’t, he says, noting that Apple was forced to decide between Verizon and AT&T for the iPhone. As long as there is no open access, even powerful, influential companies like Apple will have to go through incumbent wireless gatekeepers to launch new devices and services.