DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Communications Commission has reaffirmed its decision to establish a market-based spectrum reserve of up to 30 megahertz of spectrum in 2016 incentive auction in order to promote competition in the wireless marketplace. The Commission on Thursday denied a request from T-Mobile to increase the reserve to at least 40 megahertz for qualified licensees.
The Commission said providers who currently hold less than one-third of available high-quality low-band spectrum in a given license area will be eligible to utilize the new reserve.
Tom Wheeler, FCC Chairman, said: 'Some parties have petitioned the Commission to increase the size of the reserve, while others have argued for its elimination. The Order on Reconsideration rejects both entreaties and maintains the reserve size at the previously-approved level.'
Commissioner Michael O'rielly said: 'I have been vocal in my opposition to the action establishing reserve spectrum in the incentive auction for a privileged subset of wireless carriers, and therefore fervently oppose T-Mobile's petition to increase the reserve's size. Similarly, I disagree with Sprint's petition to weigh spectrum bands differently when imposing the secondary market spectrum screen.'
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2015 AFX News
