March 20, 2008 -- Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order de-linking the Upper 700 MHz D Block from the other blocks offered in the 700 MHz Auction (Auction 73), which closed on March 18, 2008. The D Block did not meet its $1.3 billion reserve price established in advance of the auction, while the other blocks – the A, B, C, and E Blocks – met and exceeded their reserve prices. The FCC decided that it will not re-offer the D Block immediately in Auction 76 but will consider its options for how to license this spectrum in the future.

In July 2007, the FCC adopted rules for the 700 MHz Band spectrum that included the creation of a 10-megahertz license in the D Block to be part of a 700 MHz Public Safety/ Private Partnership with the adjacent Public Safety Broadband Licensee. The 700 MHz Public Safety/ Private Partnership was designed to achieve the important public policy goal of helping to solve public safety’s interoperability problems and allow police, fire and other first responders to better communicate with one another in times of emergency. The FCC remains committed to this goal.

In an accompanying statement, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein remarked, "It is nothing short of a tragedy that the D block failed to sell. I am pleased, though, that this Order represents a hopeful effort to get back on track. I am also pleased we are acting with the haste that is justified by the urgency of this problem. We have a special moral responsibility to act quickly to set new rules that can lead to a workable partnership."