The Federal Communications Commission's auction of a valuable piece of broadband spectrum intended for a public safety network failed to meet its $1.3 billion minimum reserve price.

D Block is a 10-megahertz part of the 700 MHz spectrum. The winning bidder for D Block must agree to enter into a partnership with the Public Safety Spectrum Trust to help build a nationwide interoperable network for first responders. Under the partnership, PSST would have priority access to the spectrum during emergencies.

The auction of the 700 MHz spectrum closed March 18. When D Block failed to meet its reserve, the FCC de-linked it from the other blocks offered during the auction. This allows the FCC to move forward with licensing the successfully auctioned blocks of the spectrum.

An FCC statement said the agency "remains committed" to fulfilling the goal of D Block, but it will not immediately re-offer the block in another auction and is considering options for its licensing.