By way of the Sydney Morning Herald, The New York Times' Matt Richtel and Ken Belson note that with Time Warner, Comcast, Cox Communications, EchoStar and DirecTV bidding on radio spectrum this week, cable and satellite TV providers are vying to enter the wireless phone space.

"Though the cable and satellite companies declined to discuss their strategies, many analysts expect them to buy at least enough spectrum to build networks that will allow them to sell wireless Internet connections and mobile phone services," the article states.

"That would let the cable companies and, to a lesser degree, the satellite companies, complete a decade-long transformation: instead of just selling packages of TV channels, they are moving to offer a full line of communications products."