The Federal Communications Commission granted GWI PCS Inc. the remaining 14 C-block personal communications licenses won last May. The markets had been on hold since that time because of an informal objection filed by Antigone Communications and PCS Devco Inc. that charged the company with foreign-ownership violations and collusion during the auction.
“After reviewing the pleadings and Antigone/Devco’s response thereto, the [Wireless Telecommunications] Bureau has said that there were no substantial and material questions of fact at issue,” the memorandum opinion and order read. The bureau also allowed the transfer of the licenses from GWI PCS Inc. to wholly owned subsidiaries of the company, which was requested by the company last November.
Final award of the licenses is contingent upon payment today of the remaining 5 percent of a 10-percent down payment. GWI bid a net total of $1.05 billion for its licenses.
