- Following 26 rounds, total bids in the FCC's AWS-3 spectrum auction have reached $33B - up from $24B two days ago. Though the auction's pace has slowed, more than $1B worth of bids were still tallied in the latest round.
- Walter Piecyk observes the average bid is now at $2.04/MHz./POP, far above his initial estimate range of $0.75-$1.25, and that it implies DISH's existing spectrum assets are worth over $73/share alone. Dish rose 2.1% today to $73.70.
- Tim Farrar thinks Dish may have bid over $10B, as it tries to both add to its spectrum portfolio (thus increasing its strategic value to carriers) and inflate the value of its existing assets. In addition to bidding against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for paired spectrum assets (the auction's main prize), Dish is expected to be the winning bidder for 15MHz. of unpaired spectrum.
- Meanwhile, the FCC has announced it will vote on rules for its 600MHz. incentive auction (due in 2016, and expected to be even bigger) in December. If approved, the rules will then be opened for public comment.
- Sticker shock? While the S&P rose 1.2% this week, AT&T (NYSE:T) fell 1.7% and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) fell 2.5%.