It's been thoroughly covered around the web, but is certainly worth mentioning here--this week the American Federal Communications Commission set its rules for the upcoming auction of 700 MHz radio space in the US, which can be used for wireless data and voice. The FCC decided that open devices and open applications are a requirement on the network (as long as bidding for the space goes above $4.6 billion dollars). This means that the winner of the auction cannot mandate which devices are allowed to use the network and which applications are allowed to run on those devices.

This will hopefully mean that when these devices emerge (it will be a while; the auction doesn't start until January 2008), they can run Skype--certainly an exciting development. Skype has been advocating open applications and access on the wireless internet since this past February when it filed a petition with the FCC to to confirm a consumer’s right to use Internet communications software and attach whatever devices he or she wants to wireless networks.

While the decision isn't a complete win for champions of openness (it doesn't require that third parties get access to the networks at fair wholesale rates, which gives incumbent telecom companies motivation to bid high to keep newcomers--like Google--out), it is certainly a step in the right direction for getting Skype wherever and whenever you want it in the US. You can read official statements from Skype and eBay here on Skype Journal.