The move toward high-speed Internet access on airplanes took another step today as the FCC accepted five bids for its May 10 sale of airwaves necessary to provide the service. The FCC ruled that an application by Verizon Airfone was incomplete. The agency accepted applications from AC BidCo, which is associated with private-equity firm Ripplewood Holdings, and four other firms: AMTS Consortium, Intelligent Transportation & Monitoring Wireless, Unison Spectrum and WorldCell. Verizon Airfone, a unit of Verizon Communications, and LiveTV, owned by JetBlue Airways. are among the seven bidders with incomplete applications. The companies have until April 17 to correct deficiencies.
For more on Verizon Airfone airplane airwaves auction:
- see this article in The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)