• Forbes.com, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 11 AM

Google has been dominating U.S. spectrum related headlines for months, the Web giant is bowing out of the auction. Analysts speculate that Google put up the required $4.6 billion for the "C" portion of spectrum that ensures the creation of an "open" broadband network for handset makers and software developers. Some industry watchers claim that that's all Google really wanted--to see those auction rules put into place.

After making the initial bid, it looks like Google's off the hook; the company won't be stuck shelling out billions to create a nationwide wireless network.

Instead, analysts believe that Verizon Communications will be the eventual winner of the C Block spectrum. Verizon currently owns 49 megahertz of spectrum compared to AT&T's 75 megahertz.

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