FCC Taking Deep Dive on Winning Bids in AWS-3 Auction, Says Wireless Bureau Chief

May 1, 2015 |Broadband

Wireless Bureau Chief Roger Sherman promised in a blog post the FCC will do a thorough and comprehensive review of all remaining long form applications to buy AWS-3 licenses. The FCC on Wednesday sought comment on license applications from nine bidders in the auction, including eight designated entities (see 1504290039). Among them were the applications by two Dish Network-affiliated DEs. In parallel, bureau staff will continue to rigorously assess applicants compliance with commission rules, Sherman wrote. If any petitions to deny are filed, they will be considered as part of our substantive review, he said. "We will consider each application on its own merits and make licensing and any bidding credit decisions according to the specific facts and totality of circumstances in the record." The FCC hasn't made any decisions on the applications on which it sought comment, he said. They're complex and important matters, "and we have a long way to go in our review before we reach final conclusions on all of the applications," Sherman said. "While it would be inappropriate to make any predictions or judgments about any particular application, it is certain that staff's review of the applications will be rigorous and methodical. At the end of this process we will issue licenses only to entities that meet our eligibility standards.”