FCC's Incentive Auction to End After Stage 4

The Federal Communications Commission will be able to close the spectrum auction and at an 84 MHz spectrum total some had suggested was the last clearing target for a successful auction. The second round of stage four of the forward portion of the FCC incentive auction ended Jan 18 with bidders raising their ante to $18 billion but more importantly $1.2570 per POP.

The spectrum auction isn't over until it's over, but the final stage rule has now been met, with forward auction bidders having bid enough to both cover the broadcasters' ask (the second component necessary to close the auction) and the $1.25 per MHz POP price. The auction will continue until there is no more bidding in any market. Now that the final stage rule has been met, the FCC's spectrum reserves kick in, where up to 30 MHz has been reserved in each market for auction-eligible bidders--small businesses, women, minority-owned. The FCC set aside some spectrum so the larger players could not simply buy it all up.