Big Carriers Win Delay of Airwaves Auction

Verizon Wireless Inc. and other U.S. mobile phone companies won seven more months to prepare for an airwaves auction previously scheduled for June 19. Officials refused to delay a second sale set for the same day.

Large mobile phone companies had asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay both auctions indefinitely as they resolve ownership disputes with television broadcasters.

The agency said postponement until Jan. 14 for one sale would be appropriate as Congress weighs whether to grant a further delay. Smaller carriers wanted the second sale to go forward as planned.

TV stations are using the airwaves until at least 2006 as they upgrade to digital signals. Federal law, though, requires that the government resell the frequencies to mobile phone companies before the transition is complete.