99 Bidders on FCC’s Final List of Complete Auction Applications

The final tally is in and the number is 99.

The FCC this week unveiled the final lists of forward auction bidders with complete and incomplete applications, revealing which players will likely have a hand in the upcoming spectrum grab.

The figure of 99 participants was up from just 69 entities with complete applications on the FCC’s preliminary list released in March. At the time, an additional 35 companies who had applied had their applications listed as incomplete. Just five companies remained on the incomplete list as of Thursday.

As expected, major telecom players Verizon, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Comcast are all in play, as is AT&T, which managed to correct its previously incomplete application by the April 6 deadline.

Former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya will also participate via his firm, Social Capital.

Liberty Spectrum Inc., a subsidiary of telecommunications giant Liberty Global plc, remained on the incomplete list. The company had previously signaled after its preliminary application that it did not intend to bid in the auction.

Next steps

For the five companies on the incomplete list, the FCC said this is the end of the line. The companies can no longer become qualified to participate in the auction.

In order to become qualified bidders, the FCC said the 99 applicants with complete forms must now submit a “timely and sufficient upfront payment” by the date specified in a forthcoming public notice.

A list of final qualified bidders will be released at least 15 business days before bidding begings in the first stage of the forward auction, the commission said.