I am a seer and profit
Well, at least in the sense that one can be betting the odds. But the fact that regulators seem to miss the obvious elevates it to prophecy I suppose.
In this case, it goes to VZ selling its 700 MHz licenses. I predicted that, absent an FCC condition, they would unload them either to AT&T or to players in markets so rural that VZ doesn't want to serve them. AT&T can (and will) pay more than anyone else, so even though they are a major competitor VZ will sell to them -- especially if AT&T can provide some spectrum back.
So VZ is now done selling off its 700 MHz licenses. The ones that didn't go to AT&T (surprise!) wen to a bunch of very rural systems.
http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2013/02/verizon-finalizes-three-spectrum-deals-rural-telecoms
I don't begrudge rurals their 700 MHz licenses. They need them. But it hardly helps competition and we shouldn't pretend it does.
In this case, it goes to VZ selling its 700 MHz licenses. I predicted that, absent an FCC condition, they would unload them either to AT&T or to players in markets so rural that VZ doesn't want to serve them. AT&T can (and will) pay more than anyone else, so even though they are a major competitor VZ will sell to them -- especially if AT&T can provide some spectrum back.
So VZ is now done selling off its 700 MHz licenses. The ones that didn't go to AT&T (surprise!) wen to a bunch of very rural systems.
http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2013/02/verizon-finalizes-three-spectrum-deals-rural-telecoms
I don't begrudge rurals their 700 MHz licenses. They need them. But it hardly helps competition and we shouldn't pretend it does.