WASHINGTON-Either the specialized mobile radio industry has ceded the 800 MHz band to Nextel Communications Inc. or there are very few companies willing to take on the giant.
Auction results from round four of the lower 80 channels for the 800 MHz band show Nextel so far ahead of the next bidder, Southern Communications Co., to almost render the auction meaningless.
Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Inc., the bidding subsidiary of the enhanced SMR, has made 2,328 high bids totalling more than $4.4 million, while Southern has placed bids for 131 licenses at $181,500.
Total Com Inc. has bid the lowest amount. Total Com bid $6,045 for eight licenses. United Communications bid $7,280 for four licenses.
With the exception of three markets, Nextel has managed to hold on to at least one (and often most) of the licenses in each market, usually with no competing bids. Nextel lost the Las Vegas market to Nevada Wireless in round two and has not challenged Valley Cable & Satellite Co. for Aberdeen, S.D., and Mobile Relays Inc. for McAllen-Edinburg, Miss.
