WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Verizon Wireless was the biggest winner of communications spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission's recently concluded auction, the agency's chairman said Thursday.

The company, which is jointly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC. (VOD), won six large licenses that effectively will give it a national license to provide next-generation wireless broadband service in the so-called C-Block of the spectrum being sold.

In addition, it was the largest winner of licenses in the A-block, which are medium-sized licenses, and won 77 more in the B-Block, the smallest licenses that were being auctioned off.

Of the potential newcomers, Echostar Communications Inc. (DISH), the satellite television provider, won significant numbers of licenses, enough to provide the company with a nearly nationwide license.

Google Inc. (GOOG), another potential newcomer, didn't win any licenses, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Thursday.

Martin was speaking to reporters at a press conference at the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters.

AT&T Inc. (T) won 227 of the smallest licenses being sold, but didn't pick up any in the larger blocks being auctioned off.

The auction closed earlier this week, with $19.6 billion being raised by bidders for the airwaves.

-By Corey Boles, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6637;

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires   03-20-08 1502ET   Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.