In March 2014, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to start the process of auctioning 65 MHz of AWS-3 spectrum, helping to meet the goals of the National Broadband Plan.
This was one of three auctions required for funding the FirstNet broadband network and other services.
The AWS-3 auction, closed January 29, 2015, generated $44.9 billion.
This involved 65 MHz of spectrum which would mostly be used by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
The reserve price was $10.6 billion and the total expected was about twice that.