FCC Sets Auction Date for 700 MHz Spectrum - Tmobile User Community

Nwahs · #1 08-20-2007, 01:40 PM

FCC Sets Auction Date for 700 MHz Spectrum

FCC Sets Auction Date for 700 MHz Spectrum
By Teresa von Fuchs
WirelessWeek - August 20, 2007
The FCC has settled on Jan. 16, 2008, to auction off licenses for the 700 MHz spectrum. The 700 MHz band has been called the last beachfront property of the U.S. airwaves, as TV broadcasters vacate the spectrum and go digital. The auction is expected to raise at least $10 billion for the treasury.
The commission said the auction will offer a total of 1,099 licenses: 176 licenses in the A Block, 734 in "Cellular Market Areas" or in the B Block, 176 in the E Block, 12 licenses in the C Block and "one nationwide license, to be used as part of the 700 MHz Public/Private Partnership in the D Block."
Rules surrounding the bidding and use of the spectrum have been hotly debated over the last few months, with everyone from top-ranking telecoms to consumer rights groups weighing in with an opinion.
Along with the announcement of the auction date, late last Friday, the FCC also issued a public notice asking for comment on its proposed auction procedures including anonymous bidding, base prices for certain blocks and package bidding for certain licenses in the auction.
The deadline for the first round of comments is Aug. 31, and final reply comments are due by Sept. 7, 2007. We expect comments will again flood the commission's desk from parties all hoping to swing the results of the auction to their favor.

Nwahs · #2 08-20-2007, 01:42 PM

Considering T-mobile spent $4.3 billion on licenses last auction, do we think they will be involved?

kinjutsu11 · #3 08-20-2007, 02:16 PM

I think they may have a presence, as far as purchasing spectrum, I'm not sure if T-Mobile, or DT, has the Cash Flow for something like this after being the top bidder at last years AWS auction. The 700Mhz band, from what i understand, is supposed to be prime spectrum "real estate" and offers some pretty cool services and great reception. Don't remember where i read this, I could maybe see T-Mobile getting this in prime markets, and then having some kind of roaming agreement, but my guess: Don't expect T-Mobile to participate in this as much as they did last year.

My 2¢

chokaay · #4 08-24-2007, 04:08 PM

AT&T should just "sell" T-Mobile all of their 1900MHz spectrum (and towers), and buy all the 700MHz spectrum... that way T-Mobile will be 1900/1700, and AT&T 850/700!

j/k... sorta...