The FCC yesterday issued a Further Notice of Public Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding up to 150 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum it wishes to make available for mobile broadband and other uses. The FCC’s proposal is eyeing 3550 MHz to 3650 MHz—with wishes to expand the block to 3700 MHz for a total of 150 MHz—that…
T-Mobile Calls for More Clarity Leading Up to AWS Auction
T-Mobile is calling on federal regulators to step up in providing clarity on the impact of government operations in the AWS-3 spectrum due to be auctioned in September. The FCC plans to auction off 65 MHz—1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands—of AWS-3 spectrum, which will be used on a shared basis for commercial…
AT&T Warns FCC It Might Skip 600 MHz Auction Over Spectrum Rules
AT&T is threatening to sit out the FCC’s upcoming 600 MHz incentive auctions if the Commission puts in place rules reserving portions of the spectrum for smaller carriers only. The FCC is planning to set aside up to 30 MHz in each market for smaller carriers to bid on once bidding for those markets hits…
Verizon Buying Cincinnati Bell’s Spectrum for $210M
Cincinnati Bell today announced it is winding down its wireless network operations and selling its spectrum licenses and other assets to Verizon Wireless in a deal valued at $210 million. The regional operator, headquartered in Cincinnati, will lease back its spectrum from Verizon for a period of time while it shuts down its network operations…
FCC Opens 100 MHz of 5 GHz Spectrum for Unlicensed Wi-Fi Use
The FCC today moved to make 100 MHz of 5 GHz spectrum more accessible for unlicensed Wi-Fi use. The new report and order focused on relaxing the rules governing the operation of Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) in the 5 GHz band, specifically removing current restriction on indoor-only use and increasing the permissible power in…
CCA: FCC Wireless Chief Sees Need for Compromise on Auction Geography
SAN ANTONIO – Roger Sherman didn’t even bring a prepared speech to CCA. Speaking at the CCA Global Expo Wednesday, the FCC’s acting wireless bureau chief instead focused on directly addressing key issues and questions from CCA CEO Steven K. Berry. Right off the bat, the conversation turned toward spectrum auctions, specifically the question of…
Sprint, T-Mobile, Dish Team Up to Plead Low-Band Spectrum Case to FCC
Sprint, T-Mobile and Dish Network are teaming up to ensure smaller carriers can get their hands on low-band spectrum. Along with regional carrier C Spire Wireless, the Competitive Carriers Association and advocacy groups like Public Knowledge, the group is lobbying the FCC to adopt rules in the upcoming 600 MHz auctions that will benefit carriers…
AT&T Files with FCC for Transfer of 700 MHz, AWS Spectrum
AT&T yesterday filed with the FCC a handful of consent forms for transfer of various 700 MHz and AWS licenses. From MilkyWay Broadband, AT&T has requested the transfer of 12 MHz of Lower 700 MHz C Block spectrum in 71 counties in 15 Cellular Market Areas (CMA) across parts of Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, South…
T-Mobile Goes to Bat for Smaller Carriers in AWS Auction
T-Mobile is making a case to the FCC for smaller geographic areas and for the maximum amount of 5 MHz spectrum blocks made available in the upcoming AWS-3 spectrum auctions. In a policy blog yesterday, T-Mobile suggested the Commission try to mirror the geographic market areas for existing AWS-1 licenses, a mix of smaller Cellular…
Google Asks FCC for Four 6-MHz Unlicensed Channels in 600 MHz Band
In a series of meetings with FCC officials, Google representatives have asked the Commission to open four 6-MHz channels for unlicensed use in the 600 MHz band following the Broadcast Incentive Auctions. According to a filing, Google specifically requests unlicensed spectrum use in “any guard band separating broadcast and LTE licensees; any duplex gap separating…
T-Mobile to Close Verizon 700 MHz Deal, Deploy LTE on Spectrum in 2014
T-Mobile expects its 700 MHz A Block transaction with Verizon to close by mid-year and the carrier will begin deploying LTE on that spectrum in 2014. Speaking at Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, T-Mobile CFO Braxton Carter and CTO Neville Ray were optimistic about the LTE network potential of the spectrum. Ray said…
Verizon Attacks T-Mobile Over Canadian Auction Rationale
Verizon took to the FCC to push back hard against T-Mobile’s suggestion that Canada’s successful 700 MHz spectrum auction justifies use of below-1 GHz aggregation limits in the Commission’s upcoming 600 MHz auction. “Proponents of restricting Verizon and AT&T have failed to present economic evidence proving that the FCC should adopt rules that disadvantage Verizon…
Dish Network Sweeps H Block Spectrum Auction
Dish Network won all 176 licenses available in the FCC’s H Block auction with a combined winning bid of $1.56 billion. Fully 23 qualified bidders vied for 10 MHz of paired spectrum (1915-1920 /1995-2000 MHz) but in the end Dish walked away with it all. The auction closed Thursday, more than a month after it…
H Block Spectrum Auction Closes, Meets $1.56B Reserve Price
The H Block Auction (Auction 96), the FCC’s first major spectrum sale in more than five years, is officially closed. The 10 MHz of paired spectrum in the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz bands was broken into 176 licenses, one for each Economic Area (EA). The auction took in a little more than $1.56 billion,…