WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission’s re-auction of 161 local multipoint distribution service licenses closed last week with bids totaling $45 million.
“I’m extremely pleased with the results of this auction. The FCC has sold LMDS licenses to a variety of bidders … This is what auctions are all about-providing opportunities for companies to become members of the dynamic telecommunications marketplace,” said FCC Chairman William Kennard.
BIA Consulting estimated the total weighted average price per pop for the 161 licenses was $1.30.
The re-auction began on April 27 and closed after 43 rounds. All of the licenses were sold to 40 bidders. The spectrum auctioned included 121 Block A licenses and 40 Block B licenses. A-block licenses are for 1,150 megahertz of spectrum while B-block licenses are for 150 megahertz of spectrum.
Cloudnine Communications Inc. was the most active participant making 31 bids totalling $4 million. TLA Spectrum L.L.C. pledged the most money, bidding $7 million for 13 licenses.
The largest license, an A-block license for San Juan, Puerto Rico, was held since round 15 by Lightspeed Communications L.P. Lightspeed bid $2 million. BIA estimated this price to be 99 cents per pop.
The most expensive B-block license per pop, according to BIA, was St. George, Utah, at $2.85 per pop for a total bid of $432,000. The St. George license was bought by AirComm Communication Consultants Inc.
