CTIA urged FCC Tues. to follow through on proposal that laid out ...

Fri. In comments, CTIA reiterated dire economic straits that it said encompassed wireless sector. “By allowing Auction 35 winning bidders maximum flexibility to decide whether to request voluntary dismissal of pending applications, allowing a full refund of applicable deposits and granting a full release from contingent liabilities that encumber billions of dollars of wireless assets, the Commission can inject new liquidity into the wireless telecommunications industry that will foster capital development, job creation and better services,” CTIA said. “The NextWave licenses have been nothing but a tar baby for the FCC and the wireless industry,” CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said. “While the Supreme Court decides the NextWave appeal, it is essential the Commission move forward and expeditiously release the multi-billion-dollar overhang it has saddled the wireless industry with.” CTIA said NextWave re-auction winners now had contingent liability of $16 billion that would have to be paid in 10 days if FCC ultimately prevailed in litigation and could uphold re-auction results. CTIA said FCC should: (1) Let winning bidders cancel their pending auction applications in full or in part. (2) Allow any bidders that opted out of applications to be allowed to take part in future auctions for same spectrum “should the ultimate resolution of the NextWave proceedings permit such a re-auction.” Because FCC couldn’t follow through on its part of auction “contract” when it couldn’t deliver licenses because of litigation, re-auction winners shouldn’t be punished for opting out of original bids, CTIA said.