700MHz spectrum to be auctioned by the FCC on July 19, 2011

The FCC has announced that an auction for 16 available licenses in the 700MHz band is to take place on July 19, 2011. These are the very same licenses that remained unsold during Auction 73 in 2008. As we told you back then, Verizon and AT&T, the largest and the second largest US carrier, respectively, were the big winners that spent more than $16 billion on licenses. These auctions by the FCC are kind of important, since the spectrum that was sold during Auction 73 gave the backbone of the 4G speeds that we're just starting to enjoy.

Auction 92 will offer 16 licenses in 700MHz spectrum (that's between the 698-806MHz band) - two in block A and fourteen in block B, which means that the good folks in Puerto Rico, North Dakota, North Carolina and South Carolina, Texas and Virginia will enjoy better and more reliable wireless speeds. Compared to Auction 73, the spectrum that's going to be offered on July 19, 2011 is very limited and not so attractive, but still, it's good that more and more bands are made available for wireless use in the US.

source: FCC via Engadget