WASHINGTON-The re-auction of guard-band manager licenses in the 700 MHz band ended Wednesday after 38 rounds with nearly $21 million in total bids.
Access Spectrum L.L.C. bid the most at nearly $9.3 million for two licenses covering Little Rock, Ark., and Omaha, Neb. Pegasus Guard Band L.L.C. won the most populated license available-Pittsburgh-in round 37 for more than $3.8 million.
Congress in 1999 directed the Federal Communications Commission to auction 36 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, known as the 60-69 spectrum because of its place on the TV dial, after reserving 24 megahertz for public safety. The FCC held the first auction last fall for two guard bands totaling six megahertz to protect the public-safety spectrum from interference.
