The FCC today formally rejected T-Mobile's bid to set aside more low-band spectrum for smaller carriers in next year's 600MHz auction. T-Mobile wanted to see a total of 40MHz of the valuable low-band airwaves set aside for carriers other than AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The FCC said in June it would likely keep the reserve at 30MHz, which it proposed last year, and today voted on the matter officially. The 600MHz auction will see television broadcasters voluntarily give up their spectrum licenses, which will then be bid on by mobile network operators. The FCC is still locking down some of the rules that will govern the auction. The auction is expected to begin in mid-2016.


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