Another Thing to Never Settle for: Rigged Spectrum Auctions

[Commentary] If ever there was an example to confirm the old adage about taking a mile after gaining an inch, we’re seeing it in the incentive auction. T-Mobile, Sprint and DISH are large, spectrum-rich companies that have already received a spectrum set-aside from the Federal Communications Commission in the incentive auction. Now they are agitating for an even bigger one. Policymakers should see this spectrum grab for what it is: a case of greed masquerading as need.

Here’s the backstory. To avoid having to compete for low-band spectrum in the incentive auction, T-Mobile, Sprint and DISH asked the FCC to set aside as many as three spectrum licenses (30 MHz) in every market. Verizon and AT&T are barred from bidding on those licenses, allowing T-Mobile, Sprint and DISH to win spectrum at below-market prices. This special treatment not only robs taxpayers who won’t get paid what the spectrum is actually worth, but also harms consumers by limiting the amount of spectrum they can access for mobile broadband.