Yesterday we reported on the effect that the TV repack will have on potentially hundreds of radio stations. Now, it seems, Microsoft has stuck its foot in the repack door, not endearing itself to the folks at the NAB in the process. Microsoft wants the FCC to reserve a vacant UHF white space channel in every market nationwide, following the post-auction repack of broadcast television stations.
Microsoft reps met with FCC staffers last month to state their case: that it’s important to enable Internet access for rural and underserved communities. Patrick McFadden of the NAB was quick to blog a response.
He wrote, in part: “According to Microsoft, it is urgent that the Federal Communications Commission reserve a vacant UHF white space channel in every market nationwide following the post-auction repack of broadcast television stations, and Microsoft maintains this reservation can be accomplished without causing harm to television stations. That’s nonsense on its face. The proposal is either unnecessary, because there will be plenty of spectrum, or it is harmful, because there will not be enough.”
Expect more jockeying on this one.
