AT&T Files with FCC for Transfer of 700 MHz, AWS Spectrum

AT&T yesterday filed with the FCC a handful of consent forms for transfer of various 700 MHz and AWS licenses.

From MilkyWay Broadband, AT&T has requested the transfer of 12 MHz of Lower 700 MHz C Block spectrum in 71 counties in 15 Cellular Market Areas (CMA) across parts of Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. From WGH Communications and NTCH, AT&T has requested the transfer of 12 MHz of Lower 700 MHz B Block spectrum in 18 counties in six CMAs across parts of Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

In addition, from Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative, AT&T has requested the transfer of 20 MHz of AWS-1 A Block spectrum in nine counties in three CMAs in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

In all cases, AT&T asserts the transferred spectrum would be used for “4G” deployment and to boost network capacity.

Financial terms were not disclosed for any of the transactions.

In September 2013, AT&T spent $1.9 billion to acquire from Verizon 39 lower 700 MHz B Block licenses covering 42 million people in 18 states. As part of that transaction, AT&T transferred to Verizon AWS spectrum licenses in Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Portland, Ore.

The pursuit of more AWS spectrum licenses follows a 2014 trend for AT&T. The carrier has already sought to acquire from Cable One 20 MHz of AWS-1 spectrum covering 119 counties in 24 CMAs and from Aloha Partners 49 AWS licenses covering approximately 50 million people in 14 states.