Verizon CEO Raises 4.9 GHz Concerns With Starks and Simington

Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, who earlier met with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to oppose giving FirstNet and AT&T control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2407010041), discussed the band with Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Vestberg repeated arguments that the FCC shouldn’t provide AT&T free access to mid-band spectrum valued at more than $14 billion. “If the Commission chooses to make the 4.9 GHz band available for public safety and commercial wireless use, it must assign this spectrum through an appropriate competitive process (e.g., auction, bidding process, etc.) rather than gifting the spectrum to one commercial provider,” said a filing Thursday in docket 07-100. AT&T didn’t comment. The filing doesn’t clarify how Verizon arrived at the $14 billion figure.