Google Inc. announced Friday that it will apply to bid for wireless spectrum in a January Federal Communications Commission auction.

The Mountain View, Calif., Internet company had previously said it would probably bid for spectrum, a chunk of the airwaves that can be used to provide mobile phone and Internet services. But some analysts had questioned whether such statements were just a negotiating tactic in Google's discussions with wireless carriers. The FCC has a Dec. 3 deadline for any parties to declare their intent to...