FCC Releases Full List of 700 MHz Spectrum Auction Applicants

The envelope, please. RCR Wireless reports today that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has released a full list of companies that applied to participate in the 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction due to begin January 24, 2008. The FCC reportedly received 266 applications—from big companies like Google and small, regional phone companies like Inland Cellular Telephony Company serving Eastern Washington State and North Central Idaho.

 

RCR Wireless reports that the FCC has assigned an “Accepted” status to 96 applicants, with a further 80 applicants given an initial filing status of “Incomplete.” On the incomplete list are Alltel, Cox Wireless and Qualcomm. Google is represented on the accepted list under Google Airwaves, Inc., and Microsoft under Vulcan Spectrum LLC.

 

The RCR Wireless report noted that 62 megahertz are up for grabs in the auction, divided into 1,099 wireless licenses of various sizes. Google and Microsoft are among those companies vying for the open access 22MHz “C” block. Altogether, the FCC is reportedly expecting to bring in $15 billion from the auction.

 

Among the bidders in the auction are AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Alltel, Leap Wireless and MetroPCS. Cable TV and broadcasting bidders include Bright House Networks, Cox, Cablevision, EchoStar, Public Broadcasting Service and Catholic Church Brooklyn (under the name Trans Video Communications, Inc.). Notably absent from the list are T-Mobile and Sprint Nextel.

 

Those companies whose applications were dubbed incomplete have until January 4 to resubmit with corrections.