AT&T says plans to participate in wireless auction

AT&T SAYS PLANS TO PARTICIPATE IN WIRELESS AUCTION
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Daisuke Wakabayashi and Michele Gershberg]
AT&T said on Friday it plans to participate in an upcoming government auction of airwaves in the 700-Megahertz spectrum band, but it is still deciding whether to bid for a portion of the spectrum reserved for open access. AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson said the spectrum would be prime property for wireless companies and would be a key element for delivering data services to mobile devices in the future. The airwaves to be sold in the 700-megahertz band can travel long distances and penetrate thick walls. The spectrum will be freed up once broadcast television networks switch to digital from analog in 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1932395620071019

* Spectrum auction may be a mixed bag for companies
The Federal Communications Commission tried to structure its upcoming auction of valuable broadcast spectrum to benefit small businesses, but that may not happen. The auction's rules could help software developers and makers of handsets and other wireless devices, because winners of a large chunk of spectrum will be required to open their networks to any products that consumers want. But some small wireless providers say they won't be able to compete in the auction because of restrictions that make it impossible to raise enough capital.
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/10/22/story13.html