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

2. 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 MHz band include Qualcomm and AT&T
Mike

3. Auction 73
The SecurID® Token
Lisa

4. 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

5. 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

6. Past Auctions, continued.
Removed from its rules the Section
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?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Summary
1/24/ /18/ Rounds: Bidding Days: 38 Qualified Bidders: 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

12. Questions?
Lisa