Google has some serious competition in its bid to win a government auction for new cell-phone airwaves. According to InformationWeek, the Federal Communications Commission has received 265 applications for the auction for the 700 Mhz spectrum which is expected to bring in some 15 billion dollars to the US Treasury.

Among the applicants were AT&T, Cablevision, Google, MetroPCS

Wireless, Qualcomm, US Cellular, CableVision and Verizon Wireless. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has filed through his Vulcan Spectrum limited partnership.

The auction, which will take place on January 24, has the potential to dramatically alter the face of wireless communications in the US because of its potential to combine high speed communications with requirements for open access dictated by the FCC.

Posted: 01|3|08 at 4:02 pm. Filed under: Auction News.