The FCC yesterday set the rules for its upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction, most notably requiring the winner of the auction to provide access to any mobile device, without restrictions on hardware or software.

The auction, which will begin in December or January, is expected to raise at least $10 billion. "The airwaves are being returned by television broadcasters as they move to digital from analog signals in early 2009," explains Reuters' Jeremy Pelofsky.

Google, however, failed to persuade the FCC to require the auction winner to offer wholesale access to other providers. "That makes it unlikely that Google will bid," writes the Associated Press' John Dunbar. "Google said it might challenge traditional wireless companies if the rules were to the company's liking."

More here from ZDNet ... more here from the Times of London ... more here from InformationWeek ... and more here from Computerworld.