FCC Opts Against Limiting Amount Of Wireless Spectrum One Company Can Buy In Upcoming Auction

The FCC’s final rules for the upcoming wireless spectrum auction left out another provision sought by potential new entrants and some public interest groups: a limit on the amount of spectrum one bidder can acquire. The spectrum being auctioned is split into several sections: 22 megahertz with open-access requirements (broken into 6 pieces that can be added together); 10 megahertz for emergency services (spare capacity for commercial); 30 megahertz divided in hundreds of small licenses meant to be affordable for smaller and rural wireless carriers. But, as the WSJ explains, the FCC skipped a rule that would have prevented a single bidder from buying a majority of the spectrum. An official told the Journal public interest groups didn’t want to limit interest in the 10 megahertz section.

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