The Electronic Frontier Foundation recognizes people who "contributed substantially to the health, growth, accessibility, or freedom of computer-based communications."

I nominated Skype's Christopher Libertelli, US Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, for the 17th Annual Pioneer Awards.

Chris filed with the United States' Federal Communications Commission in February 2007 to open wireless networks to anyone's device so long as it doesn't hurt the network. The idea was to apply the 1967 Carterfone principles (you may attach any phone device you want to a phone jack) to the mobile world. The original ruling opened up innovation for home and business phones, fax machines, modems, etc.

So far the FCC has approved this for some of the 700MHz spectrum. There's still hope for Chris's Mobile Carterfone to apply widely. If it does, mobile carriers will be compelled to let you buy service without phones and phones without service. This should reduce consumer lock-in and improve competition over rates and services.

Notable is that this was pretty much a one man show. Libertelli's simply written, three page filing:

• produced thousands of pages of hostile argument by phone companies and their lobbyists defending their right to bundle,

• added a powerful meme to public debate over phone company power and consumer rights,

• opens the door to innovation in the US mobile device market as exciting as what we see in Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

Chris Libertelli's advocacy for Skype in the corridors of D.C. power promoted our freedoms of speech, access, and assembly last year. He deserves our thanks and our recognition.

See also:

• Competing against Skype 102: Lobbying. Skype Journal, June 2007.

• FCC votes today, Skype glad FCC considering 'openness,' a far cry from 'delamination'. Skype Journal, July 2007.

• Official statements by eBay and Skype. Skype Journal, July 2007.