Just In: 700MHz Winners Revealed, Verizon Nabs C Block

It's like the geek Oscars! Predicted high-bidder Verizon has nabbed the coveted C block of the 700MHz spectrum for a suspected $4.744 billion, while the auction in total earned the FCC (or whomever gets the dough) a neat $19.5 billion. The winners will have to wait about a year to "walk on stage" and "receive their awards," and we won't know the full details for a week or so, but absolutely everyone in the spectral frequency scene is going to be letting their hair down at the after-party.

AT&T also did well, snatching up 277 regional licenses to help fill in the blanks left from their transaction with Aloha Partners last year.

Performing less well was the dismal D block, which generated only one bid that didn't even make its $1.3 billion reserve price. The spectrum's D block is a bit of a hybrid, with commercial users required to give highest priority to the public safety network that also inhabits the block. Apparently nobody likes safety - and really, kids, can you blame 'em?

IT'S OVER: 700 MHz auction ends after 38 days, 261 rounds [RCRNews]
[via Giz]