The 700 MHz auction ended two months ago, but you’d never know it.
Few things rarely are settled in official Washington. The Federal Communications Commission this week plans to launch a rulemaking to consider changes to the D Block. The national public-safety/commercial licensee was stranded in the 700 MHz auction after no company came close to bidding the minimum $1.3 billion for it. Up for review are the reserve price, penalties for failing to reach a network-sharing agreement with the public-safety broadband licensee and other rules that critics claim are unclear and skewed too much in public-safety’s favor.
MetroPCS Communications Inc. last week recommended that if the FCC retains the public-private partnership model it should enact safeguards to ensure that any bidder is financially qualified to meet aggressive and comprehensive buildout requirements.
And if the auction of the D Block tanks a second time, MetroPCS said the FCC “should then hold a prompt re-auction of the spectrum and allow it to be devoted to commercial use – where there remains substantial unsatisfied demand – without any public-private partnership restrictions.”
While FCC completed its investigation of the D-Block failure without finding any wrongdoing by any stakeholder, Congress continues to probe the issue.
C-Block dustup
Then there’s the C Block.
Verizon Wireless is downplaying Google Inc.’s push to have the FCC extract an explicit commitment from the No. 2 cellular carrier that it will adhere to open-access requirements governing a nationwide collection of regional C-Block licenses won at the 700 MHz auction.
Google, whose Android Open Handset Alliance includes Sprint Nextel Corp., T-Mobile USA Inc. and others, wants the FCC to condition the grant of C-Block licenses to Verizon Wireless on the carrier’s promise to follow through on obligations to permit third-party applications and devices in 700 MHz spectrum.
The Internet search engine giant, whose $4.6 billion bid in the 700 MHz auction triggered the open-access rule for the C Block before Verizon Wireless ultimately secured the nationwide swath of spectrum for $4.74 billion, told the FCC there are signs the wireless carrier is not fully committed to open access in 700 MHz operations.
Google points to Verizon Wireless’ public position that it may exclude the carrier’s own handsets from the 700 MHz open-access mandate.
Verizon Wireless, which previously said it will apply open-access principles to its existing wireless network, shrugged off the Google filing.
“This looks like sour grapes, said Jeffrey Nelson, a Verizon Wireless spokesman. “What a surprise, Google submitting yet another regulatory filing. We knew the rules of the auction before bidding and winning spectrum, and of course we’re going to abide by those rules.”
