FCC set June 19 for start of auction for lower 700 MHz band now o...

consists of 758 licenses for fixed, mobile and broadcasting services. Both lower and upper bands face congressional deadline of Sept. 30 for auction proceeds to be placed in U.S. Treasury. Spectrum in lower 700 MHz band will be offered for auction as two 12 MHz blocks consisting of pair of 6 MHz segments and two 6 MHz blocks of contiguous, unpaired spectrum in each of 6 economic area groupings (EAGs). Auction also will offer one 12 MHz block consisting of pair of 6 MHz segments in 734 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and rural service areas (RSAs), which are smaller than EAGs. Wireless Bureau seeks comments on options for how 758 licenses in lower band should be grouped: (1) Grouping all licenses together in what would be simultaneous multiple round auction. (2) Or including only 734 MSA/RSA-based licenses in lower band auction and grouping 24 licenses based on economic areas with upper 700 MHz auction, where FCC has adopted similar approach of larger blocks of spectrum. Commission has said it chose combination of larger and smaller geographic areas for lower 700 MHz licenses to accommodate broad range of bidders. Public notice calls for upfront payments for each license and minimum opening bids. Bureau also seeks comments on proposal to award all licenses in lower 700 MHz band auction in single, simultaneous multiple-round auction. Comment is sought on proposed upfront payment for each license, activity rule, bidding procedures such as round structure, reserve price or minimum opening bid and minimum acceptable bids. Comments on those and other issues are due Feb. 6, replies Feb. 13.