What is going on at the FCC? The agency established the rules for the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction back in August, but it turns out that these were not so much “rules” as “suggestions for discussion.”

Verizon, AT&T, and Frontline Wireless have all since petitioned the FCC to change the rules in different ways. AT&T wants more clarity around the “public/private partnership” part of the auction, while Frontline wants a lower reserve price. Verizon, however, is directly targeting the most innovative part of the auction, the “open access” requirements on some of the new spectrum. It has filed a federal lawsuit asking that this part of the rules be struck down by a judge, and it also appears to be lobbying the FCC directly to water them down.

Google, which fought hard for those rules (and actually wanted more “open” conditions applied), is now attacking Verizon both in public and at the FCC.

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