* The federal government, which hauled in a record $19.6 billion in bids for the airwaves (though its success was tempered by its inability to unload a block designated for a nationwide emergency communications system).

* Verizon Wireless, which spent about $9.4 billion for a package that includes enough regional licenses in the coveted “C Block” to cover every state except Alaska

“We are very pleased with our auction results,” said a Verizon company statement. “Specifically, we were successful in achieving the spectrum depth we need to continue to grow our business and data revenues, to preserve our reputation as the nation’s most reliable wireless network, and to continue to lead in data services and help us satisfy the next wave of services and consumer electronics devices.”

* Newcomer Frontier Wireless, owned by satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications (Dish Network), picked up nearly enough licenses to create a nationwide footprint.

* AT&T won $6.6 billion worth of the smallest licenses on the block.

Perhaps the biggest winner was Google, which bid the amount necessary to back up its successful push to require open access in the C Block, but did not win any licenses. Google now walks away without spending a cent, secure in the knowledge that whatever Verizon does with the C Block, it will have to be open to devices running Google’s Android mobile platform. Speaking of which, the first of these may appear courtesy of phone maker HTC, reportedly developing the “Dream.”

Former FCC Chair Reed Hundt referred to Google’s bid as a “big bluff.”

For more info:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/032108-wireless-auction-yields-mixed-results.html