I’m scared to give Google too much power, but… I can’t help but believe this is nothing but a good thing for consumers. They’re essentially asking the FCC to eliminate the major problems with the wireless industry:

Open applications: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;

Open devices: consumers should be able to utilize their handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;

Open services: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and

Open networks: third parties (like Internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network.

Geeks have been discussing this for good reason – it’s a game changer, and wireless oppressors networks are NOT HAPPY about it. Apple screwed the pooch by not releasing their iPhone under such a federated system because Jobs is an absolute control freak (which will ultimately be his undoing if not put in check by Apple’s most ardent supporters). True control is only discovered when control is fully relinquished.

Still, this would prove to be a major victory not just for Google, but for America and (vicariously) the rest of the world. You can only screw your users for so long before they lose sympathy for you…