WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is expected to introduce legislation next week directing the Federal Communications Commission to go forward with the 700 MHz auction as scheduled on June 19.
The legislation, which was still being drafted at RCR Wireless News press time on Friday, will tell the FCC there is another side to the 700 MHz auction story, said a Senate source.
Rural wireless carriers said they would sue if the FCC delayed the auction without congressional approval.
The Stevens bill will be in direct contrast to legislation introduced last week by the house telecom quartet to delay the auction. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association strongly favors the house legislation.
