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 ended Wed. with total net bids of $88.7 million, with Aloha Partners leading with $24.1 million. Paul Allen- backed Vulcan Spectrum was distant 2nd with $15.1 million,…
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followed by Cavalier Group with $6.5 million. Of 125 bidders originally qualified to compete, 102 remained at end of 84 rounds, seeking 484 licenses. Auction, which started Aug. 27, had been scaled back this summer when Congress delayed June 19 start for both upper and lower 700 MHz auctions, leaving summer bidding time frame for only smaller C- and D- block licenses of lower band. Total of net bids was close to $64.5 million in upfront payments made by bidders, which were down from nearly $154 million in upfront payments before Hill pared down auction and allowed participants to opt out of bidding. Rounding out top 10 high bidders were Union Telephone Co., 4th, with $4.5 million; LIN TV $4.3 million, DataCom Wireless $3.3 million, Harbor Wireless $2.8 million, MilkyWay Broadband $2.8 million, Redwood County Telephone $1.9 million, David Gates $1.7 million. Of licenses for cellular market areas, including metropolitan statistical areas and rural markets, largest single successful bid was by Aloha for L.A. license at $5.4 million. Cavalier Group bid $4.5 million for N.Y.-Newark and Vulcan $4 million for Seattle area and $2.3 million for Portland, Ore. Among licenses divided by larger economic area groupings (EAGs), only Pacific area license was sold to Aloha for $4.7 million. Final FCC results posted Wed. said EAG licenses for 5 other parts of country didn’t have any takers.