D-Block, AWS-3 auctions may wait until next year

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said it appears increasingly doubtful that either the D-Block re-auction or advanced wireless services-3 bidding will happen this year, which means competition for the two valuable blocks of public airwaves likely will play out under a new administration and Congress. The FCC chief told reporters it might be possible to begin one of the two auctions -- D Block, most likely -- but he didn't appear confident even that would materialize. Comments on an open-ended rulemaking to re-auction the D Block -- left stranded in the 700 MHz auction earlier this year after no bidder met the $1.3 billion minimum price -- were filed at the FCC last month. Reply comments arrived last week.