The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has issued most of the Priority Access Licenses (PALs) won in the 3.5 GHz auction (Auction 105). Last week, the Bureau granted 222 out of 255 applications.
Auction 105 gross proceeds reached $4,585,663,345, with net proceeds totaling $4,543,232,339. The 3.5 GHz auction had the highest number of winning bidders in a spectrum auction to-date, according to the Commission. A total of 228 bidders won 20,625 of 22,631, or more than 91.1 percent, of available licenses, the FCC said in September 2020.
The auction concerned Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) PALs in the 3550-3650 MHz portion of the 3550-3700 MHz band. The granted applications represent 17,450 PALs, said the agency. Over seventy percent of the applicants that were issued licenses received a very small business, small business, or rural service provider bidding credit in the auction, said the FCC.
Inside Towers reported the top five bidders by monetary amount were: Verizon (over $1.89 billion), Wetterhorn Wireless (Dish Network – more than $912 million), Spectrum Wireless (Charter Communications – more than $464 million), XF Wireless Investment (Comcast – over $458 million) and Cox Communications (more than $212 million).
The five bidders winning the largest number of licenses were: Wetterhorn Wireless (5,492), SAL Spectrum (1,569), AMG Technology Investment Group (1,072), Windstream Services LLC, Debtor-in-Possession (1,014) and XF Wireless Investment (830).
“Five years ago, this agency recognized that our traditional spectrum auctions needed an update—and that the 3.5 GHz band was the perfect place to start,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Then this past summer, the FCC took a significant step forward with the record-setting 3.5 GHz band auction.” With the grants, the Commission continues to make progress in implementing the 3.5 GHz band concept and “further demonstrate U.S. leadership in spectrum innovation,” she added.
Spectrum Access System Administrators will manage shared use of the 3.5 GHz band by federal and non-federal users in the three tiers of authorization: incumbent access, priority access, and general access. The Wireless Bureau is still reviewing and processing the remaining PALs applications.
Here are the granted applications, sorted by licensee and market number.
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