The FCC today announced it has set an initial spectrum clearing target of 126 MHz during the reverse part of the auction for 600 MHz airwaves.
Television broadcasters have agreed to part with this spectrum. The FCC then plans to offer 100 MHz in 10 near-nationwide paired blocks to wireless providers in the forward phase of the auction. The majority of the spectrum being given up by television broadcasters will qualify as Category 1, which means it has no or little interference.
Some of the spectrum will fall under Category 2, which has a greater degree of interference but not so much that it can’t be managed. The FCC is today notifying all the television broadcasters about the status of their applications to sell spectrum.
The FCC plans a mock auction for May 24-25, and will kick off the actual reverse portion of the auction May 31. It’s unclear how long the reverse auction will take place before the FCC is able to turn around and re-sell the spectrum to wireless companies.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless have all said they plan to participate in the hunt for low-band spectrum.
