Free Press, a non-profit that promotes an independent media and universal access to communications, filed a letter this week with the Federal Communications Commission over reports that Verizon Wireless is blocking Google Wallet from Galaxy Nexus phones it is selling to customers.

According Free Press, Verizon's blocking access to a third-party application deserves closer scrutiny and may violate new rules ensuring Net Neutrality.

"It appears as though Verizon Wireless is abusing its power to act as a gatekeeper and blocking applications developed by competitors," said Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood in a statement. "If Verizon Wireless is restricting its subscribers from accessing such applications, it is breaking FCC rules and harming innovation in the process."

Free Press said it believes Verizon may be acting out of a desire to hamstring Google Wallet in favor of Isis, the competitive mobile payment joint venture it owns with T-Mobile USA and AT&T Mobility.

"The FCC cannot allow Verizon to continue to engage in these textbook examples of anti-competitive and anti-consumer behavior. It must enforce Verizon's existing license conditions and adopt real Net Neutrality rules that protect all wireless Internet users," Wood said. 

For more on this subject, visit the Regulatory Issues research center.