WASHINGTON-At the end of four rounds of bidding, subsidiaries of Nextel Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc. were duking it out for the top 15 markets of the guard-band manager licenses.
Meanwhile, Spectrum Innovations L.C. was beaten in the guard-band auction, but apparently was still active, and Access Spectrum L.C. seemed to be going after the 2 megahertz licenses in second-tier markets.
The Federal Communications Commission began auctioning off 6 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band (TV channels 60-69) on Wednesday to entities that plan to lease the spectrum to private-wireless firms and others. Those companies must deploy systems that do not interfere with adjacent public-safety operations. The 6 megahertz has been split into two licenses of 4 and 2 megahertz, respectively. More than 100 licenses are available.
To date, Motorola Spectrum Inc. made 66 high bids for a total of $18.9 million. Motorola holds the 4 megahertz license for New York City and Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp. holds the 2 megahertz license for the Big Apple.
Access Spectrum is the spectrum-purchasing entity formed by Mark E. Crosby, president of the Industrial Telecommunications Association and an ardent advocate for more spectrum for private-wireless entities. Access Spectrum is currently the high bidder for 20 licenses.
Spectrum Innovations is owned by the same people as FreeSpace Communications, which urged the FCC to not restrict the use of the guard bands. Spectrum Innovations had been the high bidder on 54 licenses at the end of round three, but held no licenses at the end of round four.
800 MHz auction
In other auction news, the auction of 800 MHz general category licenses ended Sept. 1 after 76 rounds, garnering net revenue bids of $319.5 million. Nextel Spectrum Acquisition spent $231.5 million to win 800 of the 1,030 licenses sold. South Communications Services Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Co., won 89 licenses for $50.8 million. Twenty-three licenses were not sold.
The commission also has scheduled an auction of 800 MHz specialized mobile radio licenses, set to begin on Nov. 1.