CTIA and NTCA jointly asked the FCC to...
CTIA and NTCA jointly asked the FCC to clarify that down payments and final payments in the AWS-3 auction will be due in early 2015. “It is unknown whether post-auction payments will be due in late 2014 or early 2015,”…
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the associations said in an FCC filing. “This uncertainty will complicate bidders’ financial planning for the auction and their management of cash outlays, and could also affect their ability to finance their participation.” Under the Spectrum Act, the FCC must issue licenses for the AWS-3 bands by Feb. 22, 2015, they said, saying other aspects are unclear. “In recent FCC mobile wireless spectrum auctions, it has been typical for the auction to last one or two months, with the Commission issuing a Public Notice announcing the close of the auction,” they said. “The Commission has then set the ‘down payment’ and ‘final payment’ deadlines 10 and 20 business days after the Public Notice, respectively. Should the auction commence in October, it could close in mid-December. This means that both down payments and final payments for AWS-3 licenses could be due in 2014, both could be due in 2015, or one could be due in each year."