FCC lists 168 qualified spectrum auction bidders

The FCC has disclosed the list of 168 qualified bidders in the upcoming wireless spectrum auction of 1,122 licenses set for August 9. Qualified bidders include T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom that needs spectrum to compete with its rivals on the data services front, and Lynch AWS, a company headed up by money manager Mario Gabelli, who recently settled charges that he had defrauded the federal government in wireless auctions between 1995 and 2000. Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless were also on the qualified bidder list. Sprint was not specifically named since its on the list as part of a consortium with cable companies. The FCC also issued a list of 80 applicants who did not qualify to participate in the bid. The federal government hopes to raise $15 billion from the auction.

For more on the FCC's qualified bidders list:
- take a look at this AP article