FCC OKs ariwaves auctions

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission Tuesday voted to shake up the wireless market by approving a set of ground-rules for a big airwaves auction that would require the winner to make them accessible to any cell phone, device or application.

The sale will likely begin in December or January and the government expects it to raise at least $10 billion. The airwaves are being returned by television broadcasters as they move from analog to digital signals in early 2009.

The agency stopped short of a broader requirement sought by potential bidder Google Inc. that would force the winner to resell access to its network on a wholesale basis.

Currently, wireless carriers restrict the models of cell phones that can be used on their networks. They also limit the software that can be downloaded onto them, such as ring tones, music or Web browser software.