IP: More frequency auction follies

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: "Janos.Gereben" <janos451 () earthlink net>
> To: "jg" <janos451 () earthlink net>
> Subject: More frequency auction follies
> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 23:03:25 -0800
>
>
> FCC delays US wireless auction by six months
> By Richard Waters in New York / FT
> Published: January 31 2001 23:50GMT | Last Updated: February 1 2001 03:58GMT
>
> A national auction of US wireless spectrum that had been planned for March
> was postponed on Wednesday for six months, following requests from potential
> bidders.
>
> News of the delay, which had been expected, comes less than a week after the
> completion of a separate auction in the US that raised $16.86bn.
>
> The Federal Communications Commission said it had delayed the auction after
> receiving submissions from a number of companies, including Verizon
> Wireless, the biggest player in the most recent auction with successful bids
> totalling $8.8bn.
>
> Wireless companies hope that the delay will give them time to complete a
> number of financing plans and other structural moves before the bidding
> starts.
>
> The two largest US wireless companies - Verizon and Cingular, formed from
> the mobile operations of SBC Communications and BellSouth - are expected to
> mount initial public offerings in the coming months, while AT&T plans to
> spin off its wireless arm by the middle of the year. Deutsche Telekom hopes
> to complete its purchase of another national US wireless company,
> Voicestream, early in 2001.
>
> The next auction, which had been due to begin on 6th March, will now start
> on 12th September, the FCC said. Unlike the most recent contest, which
> involved 422 separate local licences across the country, it will involve a
> small number of large regional licences.
>
> The FCC plans to divide the country into six regions, with one licence for
> 20 megaherz of spectrum and one for 10 mhz in each region.
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Janos Gereben/SF, CA
> janos451 () earthlink net



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