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Sep. 29, 2008

Late Friday, the FCC officially voted to re-auction the nationwide 700 MHz D-block spectrum.

The opening bid was for $750 million. The move was widely anticipated, as the Commission has been trying to find a wireless carrier that can operate this block of spectrum known as the Public Safety emergency band.

FCC chairman Kevin Martin said no reserve price is needed beyond that amount because the previous auction produced sufficient revenue, according to certain FCC documents.

Some industry observers are saying that there is a complex new plan with simultaneous rival auctions outlined at the FCC’s spectrum page.

The new 700 MHz spectrum will be given up by the television industry and is intended for use by emergency responders during major incidents such as a hurricane or terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Overall, the FCC commissioners all agreed unanymously with the decision, although Jonathan Adelstein partially dissented because of new wireless carrier reporting methods that are included in the new proposal.

The Federal Communications Commission is set to meet again sometime later at the end of the week to finalize the proposed changes.

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Source: The FCC.