A PYMNTS Company

US: FCC auction rules create rift between bidders

By  |  May 5, 2014

The sides are becoming ever more polar in the debate over the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed auction rules for next year’s spectrum sale.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    Only days after AT&T threatened to boycott the auction – and soon after retracted that threat – should the FCC carry on with plans to cap the amount of spectrum that could be acquired by industry leaders, Verizon has similarly voiced concern over the proposed rules, whereas T-Mobile and Sprint are encouraging regulators to lock-in those rules.

    Reports say the upcoming auction could be the largest since the 2008 spectrum sale that raised $19 billion. But T-Mobile and Sprint, the industry’s third- and fourth-place operators, are concerned that unless the FCC intervenes, market leaders AT&T and Verizon could acquire too much spectrum.

    The Competitive Carriers Association, which represents, Sprint, T-Mobile and other smaller carriers, has similarly backed the FCC’s rules. Otherwise, the group said, “the penalty is a business reality you don’t want to face: you can’t compete.”

    Full content: Businessweek

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.