FCC auction #73 for the 700 MHz Spectrum to be vacated by the broadcasters in 2009 opened today. The days two opening rounds of bids netted 2.4 billion of an estimated 10 billion bound for the US Treasury. Notably, there was a 472 million dollar bid on the D Block, which any provider must give over to the government for use as public safety frequency during an emergency. With Frontline Wireless bowing out, many had speculated that this spectrum would go unbid.

The largest bid of the day was over 1 billion for 8 combined areas of the C Block covering all 50 states. Google led a coalition of organizations who lobbied for open device access in this band. The auction could last weeks. Stay tuned for further updates.