With the deadline for 700MHz auction “intent to bid” applications being close of business yesterday, a tentative shortlist of potential spenders is being drawn up.  According to the FCC’s auction rules companies are under no obligation to disclose their intent publicly (indeed some potential players have cited the Commission’s own confidentiality policy in declining to answer) but that hasn’t stopped analysts from having their say.  Currently, Google, AT&T, Cox Communications and Frontline Wireless are all believed to have submitted applications, the latter confirming with CNET that they were part of a consortium that includes ex-Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale and Kleiner Perkins venture-capitalist John Doerr, while the former did so last week.  Neither AT&T nor Cox would comment.

Meanwhile, Verizon are remaining tight-lipped about their involvement, though the general consensus is that, with their sudden enthusiasm for open-access, they plan to bid.  Meanwhile, both Time Warner Cable and Comcast have declared themselves out, and Sprint have also reportedly declined to take part.  There has been ongoing suspicion that Apple intends to take part, but no word has escaped the Cupertino-based company’s tight lips.

Analysts continue to argue whether Google actually intends to enter a potentially-winning bid, or is remaining involved primarily to validate their pressure on the FCC to add open-access provisos to the 22MHz-wide ‘C block’ many believe is most prized among the auction lots.