At the Progress and Freedom Foundation's annual summit here, Schmidt responded to a question from a T-Mobile executive by saying that the initial rules the FCC announced are acceptable. "When we look at the FCC ruling, we felt we got the spirit of what we asked for," he said.

While he would like to see further detail, Schmidt said it is "highly likely" that Google will bid on what has been called the beachfront property of the wireless spectrum, and the company is now in the "collaboration" process.

Schmidt also used his speech to issue a four-part call to action for fellow technology executives and lobbyists.

He said the need to defend free speech has grown as more speech comes online. He highlighted the need for universal, high-speed Internet access with faster speeds and more consumer choices. He said the government needs to continue to make its activities more transparent online. Finally, Schmidt said, network neutrality is important.

Net neutrality has become so controversial that many people don't even like to use the term, but it refers to laws aimed at keeping broadband network owners from favoring certain content. Broadband providers, who have opposed net neutrality, could create different-speed lanes on the Internet and charge more for preferred customers to get faster service.

Knowing that he would be grilled about net neutrality by telecom and cable representatives during a question-and-answer session, Schmidt said he hoped they all could at least agree on one principle: "No entity that controls the last mile -- telco, cable or local government -- should be able to control the content that flows [through]."

Schmidt said he agrees with net neutrality opponents that carriers should be able to offer value-added services, but he would want to ensure that those services are available to everyone.

Another area where some people from either side find common ground is the idea that the need for net neutrality protections disappear if consumers have broadband choices. It is a point made by FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who also attended the summit.

"If people have real choices, the market will sort it out," Schmidt said. "The problem is, in many cases they don't."

During some tough questioning, Schmidt said it is important to look holistically at what consumers face, and he would want to find three to four viable carriers.

Asked if he would object if that many carriers were offering service and one wanted to exclude some content, like from Google, Schmidt said he would be fine with letting market forces prevail in that situation. But he added that businesses generally "don't do well when they exclude choices from their customers."