Four days into the FCC 700MHz spectrum auction, and already the unloved Block D is giving officials sleepless nights.  While the price for the headline Block C – complete with open-access provisos courtesy of Google – has reached $3.78bn, less than a billion short of its $4.7bn reserve, after a mere twelve rounds of bidding Block D has received a single bid for $472, far below its FCC-set reserve of $1.3bn.

Analysts had always assumed that the public service clauses attached to Block D could cause headaches to the FCC; whoever wins the band will have to negotiate priority access with emergency services, and be contracted to build a full, nationwide network.  The single low bid it received was in the very first round, and with Frontline Wireless – who were expected to win – pulling out earlier this month, FCC officials are preparing to have to “actively review” the terms and obligations (including reserve price) if the band fails to sell.