The FCC is far short of the “critical...
The FCC is far short of the “critical mass” of broadcasters necessary to make its broadcast incentive auction a success, Preston Padden, executive director of the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition, plans to tell the Senate Commerce Committee in testimony…
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next week. The full committee plans a hearing on spectrum auctions Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in 253 Russell. Without broadcaster participation, there will be no spectrum to auction, Padden plans to say. Fostering participation should be a top FCC priority, according to Padden’s prepared testimony, which says the FCC’s scoring design runs “contrary to the statutory directive” on how market forces should influence the auction. The coalition, a recipient of no money from carriers, opposes restricting AT&T and Verizon participation, Padden will also say. He will also argue that the FCC must “permit, and even encourage, innovative ‘out-of-the-box'” channel sharing proposals.” Stations need to know the starting prices the FCC will offer, Padden will add. Witnesses for the hearing have not yet been announced.