FCC Announces Winning Bidders of 2.5 GHz Band Auction

The Federal Communications Commission announced winning bidders in the 2.5 GHz band auction (Auction 108). In total, 7,872 of the 8,017 offered county-based licenses, or 98 percent of the total inventory, have been sold. With most of the available spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band located in rural areas, this auction provides vital spectrum resources to support wireless services in rural communities. There are 63 winning bidders, 77 percent of which qualified as small businesses or as entities serving rural communities, which will support the introduction of innovative new wireless services in their local communities. In addition, Auction 108 raised gross proceeds exceeding $427 million. Auction 108 started on July 29 and utilized a novel “clock-1” format of the FCC's ascending clock auction. The successful auction of new flexible-use geographic overlay licenses ensures that this important mid-band spectrum will be used to its fullest potential by a wide-array of service providers to bring service to all Americans, especially those in rural areas, according to the FCC.