Did Google Game FCC Spectrum Auction?
Google on Thursday admitted that its ultimate goal in the recent 700 MHz spectrum auction was to drive up the price of the c-block, but denied that it had no intention of placing serious bids. “Google’s top priority heading into the auction was to make sure that bidding on the so-called C-Block reached the $4.6 billion reserve price that would trigger the important ‘open applications’ and ‘open handsets’ license conditions,” Richard Whitt, Washington telecom and media counsel and Joseph Faber, corporate counsel, wrote in a blog post. But Google was prepared to purchase C-block licenses “at a price somewhat higher than the reserve price,” they wrote. “In fact, for many days during the early course of the auction, we were the high bidder.” Verizon Wireless, however, was “ultimately was motivated to bid higher, and had far more financial incentive to gain the licenses.” The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 700 MHz spectrum auction concluded on March 18 after nearly eight weeks of
