1. The rules for the auction will not be reset unless the bidding for the C block does not reach $4.6 billion. That will not be known until sometime in February, not as of December 3rd.

On the analysis.

1. Verizon’s announcement of its new “open” policy was made just before the filing date for the auction. I think that the timing was meant to reduce Google’s incentive to bid in the auction. But the details of Verizon’s “openness” are not clear, so it could just be “cheap talk.”

2. I also think that Google is likely to bid at least $4.6 billion in the auciton and to work with others to build a network if it wins the license at that low price. If not, it will have put some teeth into the openness promises of Verizon. but of course those teeth depend on the willingness of the next president’s FCC to maintain the rules and of the courts to uphold them in the face of Verizon’s challenge (thought its proxy, CTIA).