The FCC has finalized the rules for the 600MHz reverse incentive auction and set the start date as March 29, 2016.
The rules adopted are extensive and address how spectrum will be priced, auctioned, and apportioned to bidders. For example, the rules establish a formula for calculating opening price offers for each eligible television station based equally on its interference and population characteristics.
The rules define two categories of generic spectrum blocks that will be bid upon in the forward portion of the auction, such as category 1 blocks with minimal impairments and category 2 blocks with larger impairments.
The FCC also set a 20MHz cap on the total amount of reserve spectrum that any one business can acquire areas with fewer than 500,000 people.
This auction is the last chance mobile broadband providers will have to score low-band spectrum, which is valued highly due to its propagation characteristics.
