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Bidding reaches $18.55 Billion in U.S. Wireless Auction

Slimy   on 02 February 2008 - 00:29 · 13 comments & 23564 views

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Bidding has reached $18.55 billion in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's record-setting auction of government-owned wireless airwaves, covering five separate blocks of spectrum in the auction. The FCC is keeping bidders' identities secret until the entire auction ends, which will happen when no more bids are submitted.

A major slice of the airwaves, the "C" block, has a top bid of $4.71 billion. The 700-megahertz signals are valuable because they can go long distances and penetrate thick walls. The airwaves are being returned by television broadcasters as they move to digital from analog signals in early 2009. The "D" block, has a lone bid of $472 million. This is far below the $1.3 billion minimum price set by the FCC; if bidding fails to reach the minimum, the FCC will have to decide whether to re-auction the D block or possibly modify the network-sharing requirement.

News source: Reuters

Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 13 additional comments
#1 jwjw1 on 02 Feb 2008 - 00:45
I hope my bid of 4.71 billion holds out...maybe yahoo will keep Microsoft and Google busy....LOL
#2 Thrawn on 02 Feb 2008 - 02:02
Wow, Billy G. could still place a bid if he wanted the spectrum for his personal use... but is this the most expensive thing ever auctioned?
#3 Skyfrog on 02 Feb 2008 - 02:26
Someone will just snipe it at the last second.
#4 beardedwonder on 02 Feb 2008 - 03:42
Ah well! At least it's not only in the UK that the Government is selling off public space to fund budget deficits.
#5 kezzzs on 02 Feb 2008 - 03:57
Great bidder. A++++++. Would recommend!

the jokes could go on...

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(1 reply) #6 funkymunky on 02 Feb 2008 - 08:03
Wasn't this on the front page a week or two ago??
#6.1 Slimy on 02 Feb 2008 - 16:01
No.
(1 reply) #7 Krome on 02 Feb 2008 - 09:57
Let it be known Microsoft is bidding for this. They will be dominate the future if Microsoft get a hold of this deal. Resistence is futile!
#7.1 Slimy on 02 Feb 2008 - 16:08
So is Google
(1 reply) #8 The Walker on 02 Feb 2008 - 18:12
And people still wonder why the American economy is in the toilet?

Nearly $20 billion dollars for 'air'... this type of vast over estimation is like petrol on a fire.
#8.1 reidtheweed01 on 02 Feb 2008 - 18:31
yeah, only chumps use wifi, cell phones, basically anything wireless, radio, tv, and the list goes on and on.


pretty dumb comment
#9 QuarterSwede on 02 Feb 2008 - 22:37
So THIS is where the government refund is coming from!
#10 CheeseFart on 04 Feb 2008 - 07:19
what would the sale fee be?

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