Sprint, T-Mobile, Dish and others urge FCC's Wheeler to let them get 600 MHz spectrum

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler hasn't been on the job for long, but Sprint, T-Mobile US , Dish Network and other smaller carriers are already lobbying him to ensure rules that let them get access to 600 MHz broadcast TV spectrum in the forthcoming incentive auctions.

In a letter to Chairman Wheeler, the companies' top executives -- along with executives from US Cellular, C Spire Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellular One, the Competitive Carriers Association and the Computer & Communications Industry Association -- urged the FCC to adopt rules for the auctions that would ensure "that the two dominant wireless incumbents not be allowed to lock competitive carriers out of acquiring low-band spectrum in the upcoming 600 MHz auction." The executives further wrote: "AT&T and Verizon already hold licenses for nearly 80 percent of the low-band spectrum available for commercial broadband use," the executives pressed further. "They have economic incentives to acquire the remaining low-band spectrum in the 600 MHz band to stop our companies -- their competitors -- from offering truly sustainable, competitive wireless broadband service across America."