With any luck, Google has negotiated for something in return that will benefit end-users. Namely, that these carriers (ahem... Verizon) will agree to always off

With any luck, Google has negotiated for something in return that will benefit end-users. Namely, that these carriers (ahem... Verizon) will agree to always offer the latest pure Google experience device. Most likely, Google has negotiated something that advances better/broader net access over the long-term - as this would also align with their own business interests. It's difficult to believe that threats alone could have forced Google's hand. As far as tethering goes, this seems to be exactly what the spectrum auction reserve price was designed to protect. Second, tethering apps can still be installed, just not via market. While this may be a minor inconvenience, I'm not all that concerned. Big picture/long-term, ubiquitous network access will be critical enough to the global economy, individual health and national security that it will no longer make sense to keep in the hands of private corporate interests within the current regulatory structure.