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AWS-3 Spectrum Auction Tops $34 Billion
After breaking records for bidding in a spectrum auction, the AWS-3 auction has since roared onward, with more than $34 billion in bids now collected. That well exceeds the previous record of $18.9 billion raised during the 2008 auctions, and the AWS-3 auction may still continue for another week or two. Frequencies being bid on by companies like AT&T, Dish, Verizon and T-Mobile include two blocks in the 1695-1710 megahertz band, and four paired sets of frequencies at 1755-1780 and 2155-2180 megahertz. The next auction isn't expected until the delayed 600 MHz incentive auction occurs sometime in 2016.
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WHT
join:2010-03-26
Rosston, TX

1 recommendation

WHT

Member

The Golden Rule

They who have the gold...rule

EliteData
EliteData
Premium Member
join:2003-07-06
Philippines

EliteData

Premium Member

wow

that is an insane amount of money for some RF slots... jeeeez

BillionMeh
@50.182.138.x

BillionMeh

Anon

Re: wow

said by EliteData:

that is an insane amount of money for some RF slots... jeeeez

That should be enough money to keep the federal government running for a day.
xthepeoplesx
join:2013-10-21

xthepeoplesx

Member

Re: wow

Technically I think 2 days...
dfxmatt
join:2007-08-21
Crystal Lake, IL

dfxmatt to EliteData

Member

to EliteData
tmobile is in dire need of spectrum in areas where ATT refuses to give it up, share it or sell it off. Chicago as a major city example.

nothing00
join:2001-06-10
Centereach, NY

nothing00 to EliteData

Member

to EliteData
said by EliteData:

that is an insane amount of money for some RF slots... jeeeez

I was thinking just the opposite. Sounds really cheap considering the money companies will make from it no?
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: wow

Well that $350 or so per line that it will cost will come out of your cell phone bill. And the 600 will be a pirates bounty.

Consider it a hidden tax because these guys are going to just pass it on to us in spades.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

1 edit

buddahbless to nothing00

Member

to nothing00
There investors don't think its so cheap..
»finance.yahoo.com/news/i ··· 902.html

However investors should not worry they will find a reason to raise rates and make up the loss.
We all know the only reason there spending the way they are is so TMobile and Sprint will still be screwed.

EliteData
EliteData
Premium Member
join:2003-07-06
Philippines

EliteData

Premium Member

Re: wow

said by buddahbless:

There investors don't think its so cheap..
»finance.yahoo.com/news/i ··· 902.html

However investors should not worry they will find a reason to raise rates and make up the loss.
We all know the only reason there spending the way they are is so TMobile and Sprint will still be screwed.

its called "damage your competition"
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

nonymous (banned)

Member

The 600 auction may be even more insane

Sprint and TMobile both need some lower frequencies and Verizon and ATT just have money.

THXULTRA
@38.103.109.x

THXULTRA

Anon

Re: The 600 auction may be even more insane

Ya I'm really hoping T-mobile can get a good chunk of the 600 auction. Going to be tough to beat the wallets of Verizon and AT&T though
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

Re: The 600 auction may be even more insane

same here, hopefully they can get the FCC to reserve a little more for the smaller guys, then let AT&T and Verizon duke it out for the rest, I bet thats why this auction is goin so high is prob cause AT&T and Verizon are fighting a bit for what they want

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: The 600 auction may be even more insane

I agree the upcoming 600 mhz auction will set the stage on if TMobile and Sprint expand coverage into the rural areas. I believe the two should come to a gentleman agreement not to bid over each other for rural 600 spectrum and to join forces to bid against ATT/Verizon.

Then once acquired a joint deployment and build in the rural areas. Share the build cost, the fiber cost, the backhaul cost, and the tower cost. Note this would only be for the rural areas where neither have native coverage at the moment. There metro areas would remain as it is today, a rivalry.
ConstantineM
join:2011-09-02
San Jose, CA

ConstantineM

Member

Re: The 600 auction may be even more insane

Ugh.. They better not have any sort of a gentleman's agreement! Better pay more in price for the spectrum, than have to face the fines for under-the-table deals later on!

RadioDoc

join:2000-05-11
La Grange, IL

RadioDoc to buddahbless

to buddahbless
said by buddahbless:

a gentleman agreement not to bid over each other

Auction collusion is about the only way to get disqualified entirely, and as licensees it also puts their entire operation in jeopardy. Not going to happen.
shmerl
join:2013-10-21

shmerl

Member

Shouldn't AT&T and Verizon be banned from the auction?

They already own too much of available frequencies in many areas. So isn't there some antitrust limitation on this?

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: Shouldn't AT&T and Verizon be banned from the auction?

said by shmerl:

They already own too much of available frequencies in many areas. So isn't there some antitrust limitation on this?

Antitrust? Naa. AT&T and VZ already created laws to work around that pesky issue.

When was the last time you've seen a high-profile antitrust case?
shmerl
join:2013-10-21

shmerl

Member

Re: Shouldn't AT&T and Verizon be banned from the auction?

Not sure. The last that comes to mind is this: »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un ··· oft_Corp.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: Shouldn't AT&T and Verizon be banned from the auction?

ATT and Verizon wrote the rules for there industry so I wold not expect any change in the current future....

However it would be great to see the FCC/FTC throw in some new rules Like use it or loose it.
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

nonymous (banned)

Member

Re: Shouldn't AT&T and Verizon be banned from the auction?

Sprint has enough higher frequencies it is low that they and most carriers besides Verizon and ATT have. T-Mobile misses some higher why bid in this auction and not Sprint.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven

Member

$34 billion?

Hmm.. Could lay a lot of fiber for that much..
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: $34 billion?

That is what I bring up about att not pulling fiber. They have enough cash to buy dtv but not to upgrade DSL.
biochemistry
Premium Member
join:2003-05-09
92361

1 edit

biochemistry

Premium Member

Rent not sell

I don't understand why the spectrum isn't rented rather than sold outright. What belongs to the people should remain with the people and have strict rules regarding its use.

atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium Member
join:2004-02-14
EC/SETX SWLA

atuarre

Premium Member

Re: Rent not sale

You know the government would never do that. Corporations get what they want how they want.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: Rent not sale

I just comment above that there should be some new rules thrown in such as use it or loose it,
Company A, B or C purchases the spectrum and does not use it in a year or said company find it does not fit there networks needs that company can sell it back to uncle sam for 1/2 what they paid for it.. If you wait 2 years and cant use it then said company only gets a 1/4 refund to sell it back to uncle sam wait 3 years then Uncle sam can repo the spectrum from said entity for squatting. Also Companies are not allowed to sell it to a rival to make a profit for squatting. Spectrum can only be sold back to uncle sam to be resold.

To bad our government has no teeth to enforce such rules. If such rules existed Dish would have sat on there hands in the last go round.

RadioDoc

join:2000-05-11
La Grange, IL

RadioDoc to biochemistry

to biochemistry

Re: Rent not sell

This isn't a sale...it is licensing auction, basically a lease.