If you thought the iPhone redefined the relationship between Silicon Valley and the U.S. cell carriers, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet:

The venture capitalists L. John Doerr and James L. Barksdale have joined an investment group that is promoting a plan that would open a portion of the radio spectrum for both uses, through technologies flexible enough to support both next-generation wireless Internet devices and public safety emergency communications.

The plan is being put forth by Frontline Wireless, formed earlier this year by Reed E. Hundt, the former Federal Communications Commission chairman. Frontline Wireless is one of several potential bidders for spectrum in the 700 MHz band, used until now by UHF television, that is being opened up by the move to digital.

Mr. Hundt said that Frontline had begun building an investor group, which would ultimately include large banking partners, to participate in the auction. Significantly, the company’s first public investor was K. Ram Shriram, an early Google investor and board member and managing partner of Sherpalo Ventures.

American technologists have often complained about the poor status of domestic cellular and broadband technologies, often accusing them of holding back the great internet revolution. As the old saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Rather than continuing to complain, Silicon Valley has decided to pursue what it does best which means they’re just going to have to do it themselves. In the end, why would the incumbents contribute to their own demise? It was nice that Apple could work out a deal with Cingular/AT&T;but its a whole new ballgame when tech companies like Apple have obsoleted them out of existence.