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AT&T Would Love to Buy Verizon's 700MHz Spectrum

Jun 12, 2012, 12:14 PM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Jun 12, 2012, 12:45 PM

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson today said while speaking at an investor event that the company is highly interested in the 700MHz A and B Block spectrum that Verizon Wireless has put on the table. "The spectrum that Verizon has commented on that they'd be selling pairs perfectly with ours," he said in response to a question. "If we were to have access to that spectrum we could put it to work in 60 days. In 60 days that would be up and running and hot." Verizon Wireless announced that it would sell its lower A and B Block spectrum if the Federal Communications Commission gives it permission to purchase 122 AWS spectrum licenses from a consortium of cable companies. AT&T already owns some Lower B Block spectrum. Stephenson noted that he believes the FCC should help make it easier for wireless network operators to build cell towers. "It is like a bad trip to the doctor to get zoning and permitting for a cell site," he said. "It is no less painful to get zoning and permitting for a smaller cell site. That's where the cost and the delay for all of this comes to a grinding halt." Last, Stephenson said that the FCC should require that operators make better use of the spectrum assets they already own. Verizon Wireless, for example, has taken heat for allowing its Lower A and B Block 700MHz spectrum to remain unused. Verizon noted last month that 36 different companies have indicated interest in its spectrum assets.

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MadFatMan

Jun 12, 2012, 1:55 PM

Bold Face Liar...

If AT&T were to aquire the lower A and B blocks of the 700MHz spectrum they would not put it to use within 60 days.

They would make some lame operations excuse as to why it could not be utilized at this time and keep it inactive under their control simply to keep it out of the hands of any potential competition.

Is this an IQ test? Are we really supposed to not only ignore AT&T's track record, their anti consumer actions and the plethora of spectrum they currently have tied up as inactive.

Jarahawk

...they would. He said the could. Of course, you and I both know that nothing of the sort would occur.

...

Versed

Better then something like TrailerParkLoser telecomm who will cry to the government they need taxpayer subsidy's to build out LTE, and the rest of us will pay, and we shall hardly see it.

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Jayshmay

Your post us exactly why I left ATT!!!
Tmo followed the GSM upgrade path by upgrading to
JAPAN 21/42. ATTRACTIVE barely upgraded to HSPA 21,
and by the time they did it was welllll into 2010,...too late for me.

Verizon was first with LTE, and ...
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eskeebel

This post was just dumb. You obviously don't read about spectrum much. AT&T actually IS using this particular block of spectrum, and DOES need more spectrum to build out its LTE network - in this block. You can't just build whatever you want on any sp...
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AtTheMet

MadFatMan said:
If AT&T were to aquire the lower A and B blocks of the 700MHz spectrum they would not put it to use within 60 days.

They would make some lame operations excuse as to why it could not be utilized at this time an

...
(continues)

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rwalford79

Jun 12, 2012, 12:31 PM

Duopoly Confirmed

I guess the FCC is going to pull an AT&T-Mobile review and deny Verizon and AT&T the spectrum sale. This would benefit both companies as a stronger Duopoly but kill off all regional and smaller National carriers. Gee, how lovely.

Jarahawk

I disagree. Verizon and AT&T should be allowed to deal, trade, whatever...but they should NOT be able to buy spectrum from the smaller guys. Those cable companies would basically have been allowed to bid on that spectrum FOR Verizon. No way that wo...
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