Cox is lone cable operator so far in wireless spectrum auction

Cox Communications Inc., the largest private cable television provider in the U.S., said Monday that it plans on participating in the FCC's radio spectrum auctions in January.

So far, it looks like Cox may be the only major cable operator to participate in the auction, which will attract bidders for the 700-MHz radio spectrum that will soon be opened up when analog television signals cease in early 2009.

What will Cox plan on if it does win some radio bandwidth next month? Wireless service? Nah, the market is exceedingly crowded already, and it may get worse if Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) enters the picture. Fixed-wireless internet service? Cox already operates one of the largest high-speed internet consumer and business networks in the country, so that is an odd choice for increasing that market share.

With Cox competitors Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) electing to sit this auction out completely, it's unclear what Cox's strategy is -- and perhaps the company wants it that way. Cox's push towards mobility is under the radar at the moment, as the company looks like it is stockpiling wireless bandwidth for some future purpose -- but it's just saying "convergence purposes." Mightly slick there, Cox.