700MHz auction: What's really up for grabs, and why it won't be monopolized
 

*Source: Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...polized.html)*
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Last week, the FCC released several hundred pages of rules for the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction, and they're already stirring up a bit of controversy. The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118703822661296303.html) ran a piece today on the fact that the rules will not prohibit a single buyer from snapping up the two national sections of the spectrum. Even though such a move is unlikely (it would be expensive, and the two bands have very different build-out requirements), the article shows the continuing fascination that people have with the auction; even rules it doesn't have can make news. Let's dig in a little deeper and get a handle on what's actually for sale.

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