FCC releases 700MHz auction details, Verizon, AT&T big winners

Other winners include Qualcomm, which won bits and pieces of the B and E Blocks -- more MediaFLO spectrum, perhaps? -- and Frontier Wireless, scoring the overwhelming majority of the low-bandwidth E Block. Frontier is in cahoots with Echostar, though it's not clear how (or if) the new spectrum would augment its satellite TV service.
Left out in the cold was the D Block, a wireless range which the FCC had required to be used in partnership with public safety groups; it failed to meet its minimum reserve price of $1.33 billion, which means that a new Auction 76 will be automatically spawned for bidders to have another go at it. Follow the break for the big winners, broken down by block.
| Block | Big winner | Total spent (approximate, across all blocks) |
|---|---|---|
| A |
No clear winner | |
| B |
AT&T | $6,636,658,000 |
| C |
Verizon Wireless | $9,363,160,000 |
| D |
Qualcomm | $472,042,000 (did not meet reserve) |
| E |
Frontier Wireless | $711,871,000 |













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Juice @ Mar 20th 2008 3:42PM
Someone said that American Somoa went for 17k... Is that true? If so that's cheap no?
Steven J. @ Mar 20th 2008 3:45PM
loves it! Thats why i'm part of America's Most Relaible network... regardless of what anyone says... i'm proud... It's the Network..
Brandon @ Mar 20th 2008 5:15PM
...mk lol.
Josh K @ Mar 20th 2008 5:37PM
I've always wondered what VZ's PR guy was named
egoviri @ Mar 20th 2008 6:26PM
AT&T happened to buy most of it's 700Mhz spectrum a few months ago with buying Aloha for a cheaper price.
youngcalihottie @ Mar 21st 2008 8:00PM
lol. you are funny steven. you do realize this will have no impact on your coverage, right? there is not a single 700mhz device on the market that you can get to utilize this frequency. nor is there a single vz 700mhz tower. and once there are devices and towers, your phone doesnt support them. lol.
CB17 @ Mar 20th 2008 6:56PM
Anybody wonder what woulda happened had Verizon let Google win the spectrum? All the sudden in Google HQ: "OH SH**!!!!! We weren't SERIOUS! NOW what do we do??"
youngcalihottie @ Mar 21st 2008 8:00PM
lol cb. thats what i was thinking. and wouldnt that be some kind of illegal meddling with a government auction?
mr man @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:31AM
if that happens, google would get an unpaid strike and a negative feedback.
snow7791 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:25PM
erg its going to be several years b4 anyone gets their equipment and everything else for the 700mhz spectrum up and running. till then i am happy with the carrier that i have
al @ Mar 20th 2008 10:53PM
what happens to wimax now???