Wireless Spectrum Auctions

FCC’s C- and F-block auction hit $16.07 billion Tues., with Verizon Wireless now accounting for more than half of bids with $8.38 billion. Aggressive bidding for N.Y.C. spectrum flirted with $2 billion mark, with Verizon submitting separate bids of $1.8 billion for 2 licenses there and Cingular Wireless-backed Salmon PCS $1.2 billion for 3rd. Salmon PCS, in which Cingular has 85%, noncontrolling stake, bid $3.1 billion, followed by AT&T Wireless-backed Alaska Native Wireless with $1.3 billion, DCC PCS with $960.8 million and VoiceStream with $960.8 million. Bidding for 422 PCS licenses began Dec. 12 and completed 55th round Tues. Bidding for N.Y.C. licenses so far has outstripped that for next largest wireless market of L.A., where Verizon and DCC PCS have bid closer to $515 million.

Canadian Minister of Industry Brian Tobin planned auction of additional PCS spectrum Jan. 15. Qualified bidders reportedly include arm of Sprint PCS Canada Holdings, Bell Mobility subsidiary of BCE, Microcell, Rogers Wireless, Telus, Thunder Bay Telephone.

Bidding in FCC’s C- and F-block auction slowed Fri., but reached $13.07 billion, with Verizon Wireless maintaining wide lead of $5.52 billion in net high bids. Other top bidders include AT&T Wireless-backed Alaska Native Wireless with $2.75 billion and Cingular Wireless-backed Salmon PCS with $1.94 billion. AT&T Wireless doesn’t appear in list of top 15 bidders, and Cingular isn’t competing as standalone entity. In all, top 15 bidders now include 13 designated entities, most of which have links to larger carriers. While Verizon is by far highest bidder, $2.26 billion of its total is in bids for 2 N.Y.C. licenses at $1.17 billion and $1.1 billion. Alaska Native Wireless bid $758 million for 3rd license in that market. After 31 rounds, Verizon had highest bids on licenses in Washington, Boston, L.A., Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia. Alaska Native Wireless had high bids for spectrum in L.A. and Atlanta and Salmon PCS in Dallas license. Dobson Communications DCC PCS edged into upper echelon of bidders, placing 4th with $957.68 million, followed by VoiceStream with $540.12 million, affiliated Cook Inlet with $348.69 million, Leap Wireless with $293.47 million. Last week marked exit of several large carriers, including Sprint PCS and Alltel. Of 87 bidders who qualified at Dec. 12 start of auction, 49 remained as of late Fri. SVC BidCo, designated entity in which Sprint has 60% noncontrolling investment, still was in auction. Other bidders who have left auction include Nextel, Sprint affiliate Alamosa PCS, Nextel-affiliated designated entity Connectbid, Cincinnati Bell Wireless.

Commerce Secy.-nominee Donald Evans was cautious on Internet and telecom issues in his appearance before Senate Commerce Committee Thurs., assuring panel members that he would give attention to their pet issues but making no specific commitments. Evans has been busy wandering halls of Senate since his nomination, having visited virtually all Committee members before hearing. He appeared to have little to no opposition, and several lawmakers said they expected to see him confirmed quickly following President Bush’s inauguration. Among topics raised by Senators: (1) NTIA’s Technology Opportunity Program (TOP), lauded by several members for providing technology funds to underserved regions. “I know how important the issue is,” said Evans of digital divide: “I will give it my attention.” He said he would try to convince business leaders to increase private efforts. (2) Wireless spectrum, which several senators said was major topic in their private meetings with Evans. Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said country needed “spectrum management strategy… We go from crisis to crisis.” Evans acknowledged that he had just learned about 3rd-generation wireless technology “in the last 48 hours or so,” but said it might help solve digital divide. He agreed that govt. needed long-term strategy for managing and auctioning spectrum. (3) Bureau of Export Administration’s Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, which Rockefeller said was “underfunded, understaffed.” (4) Internet taxation quandary, which Evans said was “going to be on all of our minds as we approach” Oct. end of current e-commerce taxation moratorium. However, he said, Bush Administration was “sensitive to what it might mean to the tax base of… the cities and the counties and the states. And so those factors need to be considered.” Evans said “important thing is to get all the right constituents to the table to talk” and “this is not something that we should wait until October or September or whenever to talk about it.” (5) Privacy. Asked by Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) what his “general approach” would be on topic, Evans said only that he would work with ranking Democrat Hollings (S.C.) and Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) and others interested in issue. But he said “we shouldn’t continue to procrastinate.”

FCC unanimously adopted notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that eyes frequencies, including those now occupied by military users, for 3rd-generation and other advanced wireless services. Commission also denied petition by Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) seeking additional spectrum for mobile satellite services (MSS), move that Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) licensees opposed (CD Aug 30 p1). FCC adopted notice Dec. 29, meeting White House’s year-end deadline for approving item, although text hadn’t been released by our deadline.