AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile All Register to Bid in Upcoming Wireless Spectrum Auction

AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile are among 104 companies that have applied to participate in an upcoming auction for airwaves being given up by TV broadcasters. The Federal Communications Commission released its list of companies that have registered to bid in 2016’s auction. However, companies also use affiliates or subsidiaries so it’s sometimes a bit tough to immediately tell who is actually behind some of those registered to bid. It comes about as TV broadcasters have more airwaves than they need thanks to the move to digital TV, while those that offer (or want to offer) cell service badly need more space to serve all the demand for Netflix, YouTube and other video content. Some companies, such as Google and Sprint, had already said that they did not plan to bid. Others, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, had signaled they would participate. In addition, an upstart backed by Social Capital’s Chamath Palihapitiya confirmed it planned to bid. Indeed, Social Capital Rama Spectrum Holdings was on the list of potential bidders.