In a public notice issued Feb. 9, the FCC’s Media Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force said the “special displacement window” for LPTV and translator stations filing applications for channels opened April 10 and closes May 15. But LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition Director Michael Gravino says the FCC just changed its guidance on how those should be filed and his members need another two weeks to digest the change and respond accordingly.
The FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau announced the opening of a 60-day filing window for those LPTV stations that are being displaced as a result of the post-incentive auction repacking process.The window will be open from Tuesday, April 10, through Tuesday, May 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Once a station has identified which channel it wants — and on which it can operate without causing unacceptable interference — it should file a construction permit application during this filing window.
The FCC has announced that 62 applicants will be bidding for TV spectrum in the forward incentive auction. The FCC Public Notice indicated the forward auction will begin Aug. 16, 2016.
Top 10 Questions About The Incentive Auction
As David Letterman delivered his final Top 10 list the other night, we got to thinking about compiling a top 10 list of our own. With the broadcast television incentive auction high on many broadcasters’ minds, we thought that would be a good place to start. So, in tribute to the latenight legend, we present our top 10 questions that broadcasters have about the incentive auction.
A planned spectrum auction has caused concern that universities and states that hold public station licenses but are not primarily broadcasters may give up spectrum and use the proceeds for other needs.
Exclusives
The full text of the 484-page document that will govern the FCC’s upcoming incentive spectrum auction is available here.
Stations Fear Auction Threat To Wireless Mics
Unless protections are adopted, TV broadcasters and equipment makers say the FCC’s proposed spectrum auction and subsequent band repacking could reduce or eliminate wireless frequencies needed to cover live breaking news and other events.
