FCC auction of C- and D-block licenses of lower 700 MHz spectrum ...
FCC auction of C- and D-block licenses of lower 700 MHz spectrum produced $83.53 million in high bids when 12th round closed Fri. By large margin, high bidder remained Aloha Partners with $31.8 million, followed by Cavalier Group with…
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$9.9 million and Paul Allen-backed Vulcan Spectrum with $5.7 million. License that brought in single highest bid was L.A.-Anaheim market, on which Aloha Partners bid $8.3 million. Second largest was N.Y.-Newark, N.J., license by Cavalier at $6.9 million. Of 125 authorized bidders at start of auction on Aug. 27, 113 remained at close of day Fri. FCC’s Web site didn’t list Omega Communications as among remaining eligible bidders. Authorized bidders for Omega had included Mario Gabelli, chmn. of Gabelli Asset Management, whose media holdings have included stake in Black Entertainment TV. Also no longer listed among eligible bidders is Council Tree Wireless, which had made upfront payment of $40 million to participate in original lower 700 MHz auction, before it was scaled back after congressional action this summer that postponed most of 700 MHz auctions except for remaining spectrum in Aug. bidding. Council Tree subsequently revised its upfront payment to $6.5 million.