New York – An auction of nationwide airwaves that could lead to cheaper in-flight broadband and telephone calls was winding down Thursday, with a small Colorado-based company as the apparent winner for the largest swath of radio spectrum.
The auction conducted by the Federal Communications Commission will resume today, but AC BidCo is the only remaining contender for the largest of the two bands being sold. Its provisional winning bid is $31.3 million.
AC BidCo was formed for bidding purposes by AirCell Inc. of Louisville and Ripplewood Holdings LLC, a New York-based private equity firm.
AirCell makes equipment that provides voice and data service for aircraft passengers and crews through satellites. The equipment has been installed by the three largest fleets of time-share corporate jets, according to AirCell’s website. It had revenue of $18 million in its latest fiscal year, according to a filing with the FCC.
