The FCC this morning announced a “temporary” freeze on the filing and processing of applications for full-power and low-power TV stations on ch. 51. The freeze was announced in response to a petition filed in March by CTIA-the Wireless Association and the Rural Cellular Association asking the FCC to take steps to “prevent further interference caused by TV broadcast stations on channel 51” to wireless broadband services in the Lower 700 MHz A Block.
Federal regulators are seeking feedback on a petition from the wireless industry to kick broadcasters off of ch. 51. The CTIA—The Wireless Association and the Rural Cellular Association filed a petition with the FCC asking for an immediate license freeze on ch. 51. They also want the FCC to clear the channel as soon as possible of broadcasters who “reach voluntary agreements to relocate to an alternate channel,” according to the FCC’s related Public Notice.
