The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment on whether to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to consider how the agency could adopt rules to give people who have “overcome substantial disadvantage” bidding credits in future auctions.The agency noted that it is supposed...
An appeals court has ruled that some 2006 rules on designated-entity participation in spectrum auctions are invalid, although the court said too much damage would occur if it were to rule subsequent auctions invalid. Thus, winners in spectrum auctions 66 and 73 are allowed...
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the small-business bidding suit against the Federal Communications Commission remains intact, an action with potential implications for two major spectrum auctions. The 3rd Circuit, while declining to force the FCC to rule on a...
There's an interesting legal argument whose resolution by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could impact small-business bidding rules, last year's wireless auction and perhaps even the upcoming 700 MHz auction. Or it could be much ado about nothing.The question is this: When...
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION relaxed the small-business bidding rule for the 700 MHz national commercial/public-safety block, but the agency cannot seem to shake lingering legal challenges that have the potential to disrupt the upcoming auction-as well as last year's sale of advanced wireless services...
LITIGATION SURROUNDING RULES for auction-bound 700 MHz wireless licenses took an unexpected turn last week.Verizon Wireless filed to withdraw its appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz open-access rule, only to have cellphone industry trade association CTIA immediately fill the void by challenging...
Litigation surrounding rules for the Jan. 24-scheduled 700 MHz auction has taken a sudden turn. Verizon Wireless filed to withdraw its appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz open-access rule, only to have cellphone association CTIA immediately fill the void by challenging the...
THE MOBILE-PHONE INDUSTRY FINDS ITSELF ADRIFT in a sea of uncertainty as the 2008 election year approaches, with litigation, legislation and other factors casting a collective cloud over spectrum auctions critical to rollout of next-generation wireless services and the existing regulatory regime.Competition for new...
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected on procedural grounds a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's small business bidding rules, delaying for another day a ruling on the merits of a case with the potential to overturn the results of last year's...
Google Inc. Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt left the door open to bidding on wireless licenses when the 700 MHz auction begins in mid-January, but the Web search-engine giant and others are not apt to make final plans until after the Federal Communications Commission...
The Federal Communications Commission set Jan. 16 for the start of the 700 MHz auction, and asked for public comment on competitive bidding procedures for the 1,099 wireless licenses up for grabs. The agency will employ anonymous bidding as a safeguard against anti-competitive behavior...
PHILADELPHIA-A three-judge appellate panel hinted the Federal Communications Commission's small-business bidding rules could be on shaky legal ground, but seemed hesitant about throwing out results of last year's $13.7 billion advanced wireless services auction.Council Tree Communications Inc., Bethel Native Corp. and the Minority...
A small-business lawsuit to overturn the results of the $13.7 billion advanced wireless services auction is back on track, with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreeing to hold oral argument around the time the Federal Communications Commission expects to issue rules for...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission and the wireless industry cautioned the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals not to overturn results of the advanced wireless services auction if the three-judge panel finds the agency mishandled a rulemaking intended to prevent large cellular carriers and others...
WASHINGTON-Designated entities accounted for a historically low percentage of the government's multibillion-dollar take in the recently completed advanced wireless services auction, even though they made up more than half of the winning bidders. Indeed, an independent panel of the Small Business Administration recommended that...
Agents of change are at work.Some are obvious and tangible, like Sprint Nextel Corp.'s questionable decision to sack bygone chief operating officer Len Lauer for sad financial results at a company whose chief executive officer has yet to articulate a coherent vision for this...
WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein said the government should prohibit Wall Street money manager Mario Gabelli from participating in the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction as part of a fraud settlement with the Justice Department. "I think the Justice Department as part...
WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commissions told a federal appeals court more than half of the 252 applicants seeking to participate in the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction claim "designated entity" status, a revelation presumably intended to refute arguments that recent changes to bidding rules...
WASHINGTON-A trio of designated entities claim the Federal Communications Commission grossly mischaracterized to a federal appeals court the regulatory process leading to controversial changes to spectrum auction rules designed to prevent large mobile phone carriers from gaining benefits meant for small business bidders, but...
WASHINGTON—The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled oral argument for next week on a challenge of controversial changes to small business bidding rules, a development that may signal that the court sees merit in the suit against the Federal Communications Commission. The issue...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission urged a U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia to reject a lawsuit seeking to delay the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction and to re-examine news rules designed to close a loophole enabling large wireless carriers to gain access to valuable...
WASHINGTON-Three groups sued the Federal Communications Commission over changes to small-business bidding rules, asking a federal appeals court in Philadelphia to immediately stay enforcement of new guidelines and delay the scheduled Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction pending judicial review of...
WASHINGTON—Three groups sued the Federal Communications Commission over changes to small-business bidding rules, asking a federal appeals court in Philadelphia to immediately stay enforcement of new guidelines and delay the scheduled Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction pending juridical review of...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission ruled late Friday to limit controversial small-business bidding changes to the advanced wireless services auction and future license sales, mollifying critics of retroactive provisions while emboldening other opponents to seek relief in court. The FCC's retreat in April from a...
