FCC Wireless-Spectrum Auction Begins; Seen Lasting Weeks

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday kicked off an auction of spectrum for wireless services that could raise an estimated $15 billion for the US government.

The auction will conclude once the 168 participants stop bidding, a process that may take several weeks. The FCC is auctioning off 1,122 licenses for airwaves that are currently used by the US military and law enforcement.

The bidders include T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom, and Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group, along with small rural companies and money manager Mario Gabelli.

-By Siobhan Hughes, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6654; Siobhan.Hughes@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 9th August 2006