There’s one thing that the broadcast and wireless communities more or less agree on – the success of the incentive auction hinges on broadcast participation, and the FCC should be doing what it can to promote it.
CTIA weighed in on the auction and made a number of points broadcasters might agree with.
The Association echoed the NAB’s recent comment that the FCC’s flirtation with variable spectrum allocation is largely unworkable and should be avoided.
It made the general point that getting the framework for the auction done right was more important than getting it done quickly.
But it was very concerned that there will be enough spectrum available worth bidding on.
“The Commission should take steps to encourage broadcaster participation,” it said.
It suggested adding a great deal more flexibility for broadcasters. “Specifically,” it stated, “the Commission should permit participating broadcasters to adjust their bids both ‘up’ and ‘down’ the Commission’s hierarchy of bid options.” The options include going off air, moving to a low VHF channel, moving to a high VHF channel or remaining in the station’s existing band.
According to CTIA, this would allow a station that had opted for a lesser level of relinquishment to change course if so desired.
It cited the following scenario: “This will encourage auction participation and is in the public interest. Indeed, some broadcast commenters argued that this proposal will have a particular negative impact on broadcasters looking to move to VHF, and may discourage them from participating, noting that “if a broadcaster elects the move to high VHF option in the first round of the auction and that option either becomes unavailable or the price for that option falls below the price that the broadcaster is willing to accept, its only option will be to remain in UHF.”
