FCC raises $520 mln in auction of wireless licenses
WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission said Thursday it raised almost $520 million from the auction of 96 licenses to nine companies that will subdivide and lease the spectrum to third parties for wireless uses.
A unit of Nextel Communications Inc. was the top
bidder, spending $337.8 million on 37 licenses, followed by a unit of Pegasus Communications Corp. spending $91.5
million for 31 licenses.
The Industrial Telecommunications Association spent $69
million on 29 licenses, while Motorola Inc. spent $6.2
million on one license.
"These companies have an exciting opportunity ahead of them to promote the development of secondary markets of spectrum usage," FCC Chairman William Kennard said in a statement.
The licenses were part of the 700 megahertz guard band and the buyers of the licenses must adhere to strict frequency coordination and interference rules, as well as control the use of the spectrum to ensure the public's protection.
Eight licenses went unsold during the auction and those
licenses will be sold in a future auction.
The licenses were sold for cities across the United States ranging from Boston, Charlotte and Tampa to Knoxville, Chicago, Dallas and Seattle. |
