Roel, Chad, Juan, Edgar, Michael, Lisa 700 MHz Spectrum Auction Roel, Chad, Juan, Edgar, Michael, Lisa Chad introduce group and topic

History Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band which transmits analog television signals Consists of upper and lower 700 MHz band TV broadcasters switch to digital signals, vacating the spectrum Signal can propagate through walls Currently, the largest owners of the lower 700 MHz band include Qualcomm and AT&T Mike

Auction 73 The SecurID® Token Lisa

The First Auction August 1993, President Clinton signed law granting the FCC authority to auction radio frequency or spectrum First auction on July 25, 1994 Used electronic simultaneous multiple round bidding auction Lisa

Past Auctions FCC conducts auctions of licenses for radio frequencies Initial C block licenses awarded through two auctions Some licenses available to all bidders in “open” bidding, while other licenses available only to entrepreneurs in “closed” bidding Juan

Past Auctions, continued. Removed from its rules the Section 24.710 Prohibited an applicant from winning more than 98 of the licenses available in the C and F blocks Was there open access in past auctions?

Regulators Federal Communications Commission Regulates all interstate and national communications Overlooks the 700 MHz spectrum Rules for efficient commercial wireless Shutting down analog television broadcasting Edgar

Why is it Special? Compared to beach front property Referred to as the last great wireless auction Owners can: Build cheap and reliable wireless networks Use existing towers and save on costs Open access on block C Edgar

Time Division Duplex (TDD) technology Most efficient duplexing scheme for wireless networks One frequency used by both receiver and transmitter Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) One frequency for upstream, one for downstream Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) Subscribe to wireless service to receive emergency alerts Will feature presidential alerts, imminent danger alerts and child abduction/amber alerts Messages will be in the form of a text message May eventually carry audio and video emergency alerts as well. Chad

Who won the auction? Won licenses in the “A” block: Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular Corporation each picked up 25 licenses Other companies: Century Tel with 21 licenses, Cavalier Wireless, Cox Communications, and King Street Wireless. AT&T took control of the “B” block by purchasing approximately 227 region licenses Roel

Summary 1/24/2008 - 3/18/2008 Rounds: 261 Bidding Days: 38 Qualified Bidders: 214 Winning Bidders: 101 Bidders won 1,090 Licenses Licenses Held by FCC: 9 Gross Bids: $19,120,378,000 Net Bids: $18,957,582,150 Lisa

Questions? Lisa