WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission will kick up the pace of the 800 MHz specialized mobile radio services auction tomorrow to 24 rounds per day in another effort to bring the bidding to a close; each round will last 10 minutes.
The commission tried a similar tack Dec. 1 by going to 16 rounds per day, but even that move failed as the bidding continued at press time.
The original 62 bidders at the auction’s Oct. 29 start has dwindled to 14, and the number of new high bids per round has fluctuated between two and three as a few bidders wrangle to keep their eligibility alive.
As of Round 214, net revenues for the 525 licenses in play reached $92.9 million, with three new high bids.
Nextel Communications Inc., which held the high bids on 478 licenses, has committed $86.6 million so far.
Following behind in the top 10, in terms of markets, was Nevada Wireless, paying $1 million for 16 licenses; Southern Co., bidding $1 million for seven licenses; Silver Palm Communications Inc., offering $74,000 for four licenses; Jamestown Communications Inc., posting $102,000 for two licenses.
North Sight Communications Inc., High Tech Communications Services Inc., Communications Pacific Inc., Mountain SMR Group, and Hawaiian SMR Co. each held the high bid on one market.
