CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said FCC’s rescheduling of Ch. 60-69 aucti...
CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said FCC’s rescheduling of Ch. 60-69 auction for June 19, 2002 (CD Oct 16 p3) doesn’t mean spectrum is “any closer to being put to higher uses, like public safety, as Congress directed.” FCC on…
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Mon. rescheduled 700 MHz, which has been delayed from 5 previous start dates. “Protecting reruns of Bonanza on UHF television pales in comparison to using the spectrum for 911 calls and better communication for police, fire and rescue,” Wheeler said. In 700 MHz band, FCC has set aside 24 MHz for public safety users, which are also subject to efforts to have analog TV broadcasters vacate spectrum in advance of DTV transition deadline of 2005. “Even after the auction, the broadcasters will have to be paid extortion money to move. It’s a sad state of affairs when broadcasters have to be bought off what they promised to give back and Congress has directed to a higher public safety use,” Wheeler said.