WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission officially awarded more than half of the 1,087 advanced wireless services licenses won at the agency’s auction that began in early August and ended Sept. 18.
The FCC said the 550 AWS licenses it granted represent $12.2 billion of the $13.7 billion in total net high bids in Auction 66. A portion of auction receipts will fund the relocation of defense and other government users from the 1710-1755 MHz band-one of the two AWS bands-to other frequencies.
“T-Mobile is extremely pleased to receive its AWS license grants . from the FCC. The agency is to be commended for moving so rapidly to award these licenses,” said Tom Sugrue, vice president for government affairs at T-Mobile USA Inc. We want to thank FCC Chairman (Kevin) Martin, the FCC commissioners and the staff of the wireless bureau for their superb efforts in making this important spectrum available at this time.”
T-Mobile USA, the smallest of the four national mobile phone operators, topped all bidders at the AWS auction by acquiring 120 licenses for $4.2 billion.
Several parties have urged a federal appeals court in Philadelphia to overturn AWS auction results as part of a lawsuit targeting small-business bidding rules adopted by the FCC in April. The briefing cycle has closed and the parties are awaiting a date for oral argument from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
