Auction of wireless airwaves seen nearing end

By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bidding is expected to draw to a close soon in the closely watched auction of wireless airwaves that the U.S. government is selling.

After more than a month of bidding that has raised a record $19.59 billion, analysts said the auction of 700 meghertz airwaves is likely to end within a matter of days.

"I think it's going to be over next week," said Stifel Nicolaus analyst Rebecca Arbogast.

Both the FCC and the bidders have declined to comment on the specifics of the auction while it is ongoing.

Under rules set by the Federal Communications Commission, the auction must continue until bidding has stopped on all five blocks of spectrum offered for sale. Bidders' identities remain secret until the entire auction ends.

Earlier this week, the FCC accelerated the 700 megahertz bidding to 10 rounds per day, signaling that the agency is moving to wind up the auction, Arbogast said.

The FCC is expected to announce the winning bidders within several days after the bidding ends.

The agency also faces a decision on what to do with the one block of spectrum that did not meet its minimum bid price, the "D" block of spectrum. Under FCC rules, the winner of that piece of spectrum would have to give police, firefighters and other public safety groups priority use during an emergency.