Federal communications officials today scheduled a vote on rules for a spectrum auction for 25 megahertz in the 2155-2180 MHz advanced wireless services band, requiring the winning bidder to offer free broadband service under what some analysts are calling an “aggressive” build-out schedule.

 

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said during an interview with the media that a vote on the measure could be held at his agency’s June 12 meeting, or earlier.

“We’ve had a variety of proposals that had come into the commission originally where some people wanted us to give them the spectrum,” Martin said.

 

In the United States, the FCC (News - Alert) awards licenses to operators to provide mobile communications services, including cell and wireless services. Since the nation developed a regulatory framework for cellular in 1981, the process has taken place through auctions.

Martin said today that a licensee of the 2155-2180 MHz spectrum – known as the “AWS III band” – must provide a free service tier, and must reach 50 percent of the population in four years. The winning bidder must reach 95 percent of the population by the end of its license term, according to Martin.

 

The FCC raised nearly $20 billion earlier this year by auctioning 62 megahertz of the 700 MHz spectrum.

 

Some analysts are speculating that the agency may re-auction the 700 MHz D Block, which went unclaimed in the auction earlier this year after no bids met the $1.3 billion starting price.

 

If the matter is taken up at the FCC’s June 12 meeting, it’s going to be a late night. The agency is expected to dismiss video communications company Skype’s (News - Alert) petition to rquire an open-access rule for the entire wireless spectrum.

 

The June 12 meeting will also include a hearing on early termination fees for cell phone providers. The FCC is proposing that cell phone customers not be required to pay a fee if they cancel service within 30 days of singing up or 10 days after receiving their first bill. Fees for quitting a contract early routinely run $175 or higher.