AirCell Inc. plans to bid in an auction starting today for airwaves that will be used to provide airline passengers with high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access during flights.
Louisville-based AirCell has applied to the Federal Communications Commission to participate in the auction, which could last several days if bidding continues.
Nine bidders will participate in the auction, including chief competitor Verizon Airfone, the only current holder of a license to use the frequencies, and LiveTV LLC, owned by JetBlue Airways Corp. Another bidder, AC BidCo LLC, is linked to AirCell.
Late last month, AirCell chief executive Jack Blumenstein received an “unsolicited voice- mail message” from WorldCell Inc. chief executive Blake Swensrud, according to the FCC.
AirCell reported the incident to comply with anti-collusion rules. Swensrud notified AirCell “that WorldCell has withdrawn (from) the auction and is now free to talk,” according to the FCC.
Blumenstein “has not and will not respond to the voice mail,” AirCell told the FCC.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at kyamanouchi@denverpost.com or 303-820-1488.
