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RadioShack’s last dance, auctioning the Internet & why housing still matters: The week ahead

An FCC auction happening Friday could shape the Internet landscape not just next week but for the next few years.

The auction, which is for some thing called the AWS-3 spectrum, has been going for 20 some rounds and shows how fiercely companies are battling for speed in a digital world. (Think of spectrum as the highway your mobile data travels on.)

“I’m worried about telecommunications for next week,” said Yahoo Finance’s Aaron Pressman. “[This auction] is for sort of silver medal spectrum, not the really, really good stuff that’s going to be auctioned off in two more years. Bids are about to pass $30 billion. That’s double what Wall Street expected.”

Companies involved in the bidding include AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ) and Dish Network (DISH). “No one’s exactly sure how AT&T and Verizon can really afford this after all the debt they’ve piled on from other deals. It could put their dividends in jeopardy if they really wade in all this,” said Pressman. “There could be some problems in techland next week.”

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One of those problems may have nothing to do with spectrum. RadioShack (RSH) is still holding on for dear life. The company, whose stock is trading under $1 and has admitted they may declare bankruptcy, reports earnings Tuesday.

“They’re gonna lose money, there’s no doubt about that,” said Yahoo Finance’s Rick Newman. “They probably have enough money to get through the holiday season but what are they gonna have to show after that is the question.”

RadioShack has announced big plans for Black Friday, with deals officially kicking in at 8am on Thanksgiving day. The store will be open all day on Thanksgiving with the exception of a five hour block of time in the afternoon.

RadioShack may be a lone wolf in a sea of retailers that look to be heading into strong holiday seasons. One indicator for consumer strength may actually be housing, and next week, we’re set to get several reads on the health of the market.

“Housing month to month has not been a big market mover,” said Yahoo Finance senior columnist Michael Santoli. “This hasn’t really been the story here, but I think it’s emerging as a theme just because we’re looking at a domestic U.S. consumer revival as a new story into next year.”

That will play out in the housing market – not necessarily in rising home prices but in increased home-builder confidence. “The interest rate on outstanding mortgages is at a historic low right now, under 4%. I actually think this has to be an area to kick in for that domestic consumer story to play out,” he said.

What are you watching next week? Let us know in the comments below.

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