***WAVE Comments
This is a good move on the FCC's part. However, there is more to
this. Most importantly the auction has little meaning when there
is not clear title to the spectrum. This spectrum is currently
held by television broadcasters and it does not have to transfer
until HDTV is successful. Right now no one expects this to happen
by the magic 2006 date. Thus, a company would pay for something
when the delivery is uncertain. Bad deal. Maybe in a year the
government can clean up this mess. If it does not there will be
another delay. It is also important to note that the Congress is
the body that originally proposed this sale as a revenue
generation measure. Even that reason has less meaning. The only
factor really pushing this sale is the desire on the part of
operators to get access to valuable, relatively low frequency
spectrum, which has good building penetration for 3G services.
Wave Issue 0106 2/2/01 Article 2-02