AWS-3 auction

In March 2014, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to start the process of auctioning 65 MHz of AWS-3 spectrum, helping to meet the goals of the National Broadband Plan. This was one of three auctions required for funding the FirstNet broadband network and other services. The PCS H block or AWS-2 auction raised nearly $1.6 billion of the $7 billion needed for FirstNet, with all licenses awarded to Dish Network. The AWS-3 auction, closed January 29, 2015, generated $44.9 billion. This involved 65 MHz of spectrum which would mostly be used by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. The reserve price was $10.6 billion and the total expected was about twice that. AT&T bid $18.2 billion, Verizon $10.4 billion, and Dish Network $13.3 billion but expected to reduce its payments to $10 billion by using subsidiaries. T-Mobile bid $1.8 billion.