Paul Allen applies to bid in U.S. wireless auction

By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A venture led by Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) co-founder Paul Allen has applied to bid in an upcoming U.S. auction of coveted wireless airwaves, according to auction documents released late on Tuesday.

Allen was listed with an entity called Vulcan Spectrum LLC among the applicants who filed to bid in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction of 700-megahertz spectrum, which is scheduled to begin on January 24.

Allen heads an investment company called Vulcan Capital and is also a majority shareholder in U.S. cable operator Charter Communications (CHTR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Allen and Vulcan Spectrum were on a list of scores of potential bidders who filed applications ahead of a December 3 FCC deadline. The list was made available on the FCC's Web site late on Tuesday.

The auction applicants also included, as expected, Internet leader Google Inc (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and U.S. wireless providers AT&T Inc (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). Also listed was Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

A Reuters search of the documents did not turn up any application by EchoStar Communications Corp (DISH.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). There was speculation earlier this month that the satellite television operator might apply to enter the auction. Representatives of EchoStar could not be reached for comment.

The FCC-run wireless auction is expected to take several weeks, with the spectrum to be auctioned off in several blocks.

The radio waves are being returned by broadcasters as they move from analog to digital signals early in 2009. The signals can go long distances and penetrate thick walls.