Of course there will be auctions and costs. Did anyone actually believe the dozen large firms that pushed for opening the whitespaces were doing so without the possibility of their utilizing their wealth advantage to crush the small fry!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
November 30, 2010 Bruce Romano, 202-418-2124
Bruce.Romano@fcc.gov
FCC PROPOSES INITIAL STEPS TO OPEN TV SPECTRUM
TO NEW WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICES
Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission today took important steps to meet the
nation’s demand for innovative wireless broadband services and preserve the benefits that free over-theair
TV provides for consumers.
In adopting proposals to make more efficient use of the nation’s airwaves, the FCC set the stage for
broadcast spectrum auctions that could provide consumers with the robust mobile broadband
services they demand while preserving over-the-air TV that many rely upon. The resulting efficient use
of airwaves will help ensure that America leads the global wireless revolution and enjoys the resulting
jobs and economic growth.
Specifically, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted by the FCC today proposes that wireless
broadband providers have equal access to television broadcast frequencies that could become available in
spectrum auctions. The Notice seeks comment on establishing new allocations for both fixed and mobile
wireless services in the TV broadcast bands.
The Notice also explores enabling TV stations to voluntarily combine their operations and distinct
programming lineups on a single TV channel. The Notice requests comment on the proposed rules that
would enable TV broadcasters to opt to share channels by further tapping the technical capabilities that
became available following the nation’s historic transition to digital television in 2009.
Finally, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on steps that would improve TV reception on
the VHF channels (2-13), such as by increasing transmitting power and establishing minimum
performance standards for indoor antennas. These improvements could provide better VHF reception for
consumers and encourage broadcasters to use valuable VHF channels in the future.
The proposals in today’s rulemaking will pave the way for future actions that will propose service,
licensing and auction rules for new broadband service operators to utilize vacated TV
spectrum.
Action by the Commission November 30, 2010, by Notice of Proposed Rule Making (FCC 10-196).
Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn, and Baker. Separate statements
issued by Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn, and Baker.
ET Docket No. 10-235.
For further information, contact Alan Stillwell (202-418-2470; Alan.Stillwell@fcc.gov).
