Broadcasters and Unlicensed Advocates File Letter Opposing FCC Incentive Auction Plan

WASHINGTON, DC — Today a diverse coalition of broadcasters and unlicensed spectrum advocates filed a joint letter opposing a FCC staff proposal aimed at reversing the Commission’s decision in last year’s TV band Incentive Auction Report & Order to dedicate the “duplex gap” (guard band) after the auction for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed innovation in every market nationwide, as well as for licensed broadcast news microphones.

The signers oppose the staff’s proposal to relocate TV stations in the duplex gap in certain major markets, including Los Angeles. The letter urges the Commission to maintain its current policy of relocating TV stations, only if absolutely necessary, in the mobile carrier uplink or downlink portions of the new post-auction 600 MHz band plan.

The coalition filing the letter includes broadcasters (National Association of Broadcasters), newscasters (Radio & Television Digital New Association), utilities (Utilities Telecom Council), consumer advocates (Consumer Federation of America and other public interest groups), technology companies (Microsoft, Engine Advocacy), and rural wireless broadband providers (WISPA, Rural Broadband Policy Group).

The following statement can be attributed to Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Project at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“Placing TV stations in the duplex gap is just plain bad policy that ignores clear Congressional intent. Broadcasters, newscasters, technology companies and consumer advocates all urge the Commission not to reverse the agency’s decision last year to adopt a balanced auction policy that also protects the public interest in unlicensed spectrum and in over-the-air broadcasting.

Our broad coalition asks the Commission to stick with its current, balanced policy that does not sacrifice the public’s interest in better Wi-Fi and in local news coverage for the short-sighted siren song of a bit more auction revenue.”

The joint coalition letter can be viewed here: bit.ly/1JRFk3E

A related FCC filing explaining the position of consumer advocates can be viewed here: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001088294

A related blog post published today can be viewed here: http://www.newamerica.org/oti/spectrum-auctions-and-smartphones/