Sprint says it plans to decide by early next year whether to move ahead with the sale of its cell phone towers. The 6500 towers could fetch as much as $1.2 billion at auction.

But Sprint declined direct comment on a Wall Street Journal report that four companies, including one that owns an extensive stake in Sprint, have made bids for the towers.

One of the prospects reportedly is Liberty Media of suburban Denver, which said earlier this year the company has an interest in buying the towers. Liberty owns almost $2 billion of stock in the Overland Park-based corporation. Analysts say that could give the company an inside track in any auction. analysts said.

Sprint spokesman Scott Stoffel said the telecommunications company still is evaluating whether to keep the towers, but hopes to make a decision in late December or early next year.