“Talk of the government’s pending auction of valuable wireless spectrum has focused largely on one intriguing newcomer to the bidding: Google (GOOG). But another tech powerhouse has considered joining the bidding as well: Apple,” Peter Burrows reports for BusinessWeek.

“Two sources tell BusinessWeek that Steve Jobs & Co. have studied the implications of joining the auction, which will be held Jan. 16. The winners will get rights to use the spectrum that analog TV broadcasters are handing back to the government in 2009, given their mandated move to digital television,” Burrows reports.

“At this point, says one of the sources, Apple is leaning against participating in the auction. It’s not the money… Rather, the risk for Apple is in entering the generally low-margin, hardscrabble world of running a massive-scale network,” Burrows reports.

“Still, even the possibility of an Apple bid is intriguing… If it owned its own spectrum, Apple could provide the network service itself, possibly for far less than the $1,440 iPhone owners must now fork out over the course of the cheapest two-year contract… Apple might even be able to give away network service for free, and make its money off services such as iTunes and possibly by selling subscribers advertising space,” Burrows reports.

“Indeed, cutting out the carrier would probably be in sync with Steve Jobs’ view of the world,” Burrows reports.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "phil k" for the heads up.]