Wireless Future Statement on the FCC Broadcast Incentive Auction
Press Release
April 13, 2017
Today, the FCC announced the results from the first broadcast incentive auction. The following statement can be attributed to Michael Calabrese, Director of the Wireless Future Project.
“The auction’s most positive outcome is that among the three largest buyers are potential new mobile market entrants, Comcast and DISH, and a scrappy competitive carrier, T-Mobile. Since a national footprint of low-band spectrum with building penetration is essential to be competitive, consumers will ultimately gain far greater benefits from improved competition than the relatively small sum going into the Treasury.
“We also expect that with new channel assignments known, the Commission can move quickly to adopt its long-delayed Vacant Channel order. Relieving the uncertainty about a sufficient amount of unlicensed spectrum in every market is essential to kick-staring greater investment in using
TV white spaces for rural broadband, IoT applications and for extending the range of Wi-Fi in mobile devices.”