FCC Unveils Full Text Of Auction Rules

The FCC today released the full 484-page text of the rules that will govern the incentive auction the agency is planning to hold next year to repurpose broadcast TV spectrum for smartphones and other wireless services.

The NAB previously complained that the auction regulations the commission adopted in a 3-2 vote on May 15 might not adequately protect broadcasters who opt to sit the auctions out — and might even force them to pick up part of the costs for moving to new channels to clear a band for wireless.

But in a statement today, NAB said only that association executives are reviewing the “rather lengthy” order that. “As we have said consistently, our twin aims are to help ensure the best chance for auction success while holding harmless those local TV stations committed to staying in business who wish to continue serving their tens of millions of viewers,” said Dennis Wharton, an NAB spokesman.

Read the FCC’s entire document here.