Now that the trade group has had a chance to read the 500-page text of the FCC rulemaking covering the incentive auction of TV spectrum and repacking of the TV band, its CEO Gordon Smith says: "The order's fundamental flaw is that it ignores Congress's clear direction to do no harm to broadcasters who choose not to participate in the voluntary auction."
NAB Skewers FCC’s Auction Rules
When the FCC adopted a rulemaking aimed at setting the rules for the incentive auction of TV spectrum and repacking of the TV band last month, the NAB expressed deep concerns about it.
Now that the trade group has had a chance to read the 500-page text of the rulemaking that was released on Monday, its concerns have only deepened.
“The order’s fundamental flaw is that it ignores Congress’s clear direction to do no harm to broadcasters who choose not to participate in the voluntary auction,” said NAB President Gordon Smith said in a statement.
“Instead, the [FCC] goes so far as to suggest that the goal of repurposing broadcast spectrum for mobile broadband is superior, rather than equal to, that of maintaining a healthy and robust broadcast industry.
“Let’s be clear: not a single American will know or understand if their wireless carrier adds 10 or 20 new megahertz to its 150-plus megahertz stockpile. They will, however, be quite angry if they are suddenly deprived of access to local broadcasters’ news, entertainment and public safety information as a result of an auction gone awry.”
Comments (5)
Janet Frankston Lorin says:
June 5, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Thise entire friggin’ administration has gone awry!
Jay Miller says:
June 5, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Wheeler/Obama..Same thing. Incompetent bureaucrats!!!!
Ellen Samrock says:
June 5, 2014 at 8:04 pm
When I scanned through the R&O might first thought was; “OMG! The FCC swept aside every comment, suggestion and concern broadcasters and engineers made about the incentive auction and repack. They’re doing it totally Wheeler’s and Obama’s way.” But there are many parts to this R&O that are clearly not in the spirit of the Spectrum Act and could be successfully challenged in court. I fully expect at least two if not more lawsuits filed against the FCC from this. Now that Obama is facing possible impeachment over the Taliban insurgent swap, the tide is turning against his administration. This actually a good time to challenge in a court of law what is basically Obama’s communication policy.
Ben Gao says:
June 6, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Wheeler was the ‘wheeler and dealer’ for the cell industry for years, and became a wealthy man by getting everything their little hearts desired – apparently he still ‘owes them’ by destroying FREE broadcast OTA TV all in the name of more spectrum for the cellular industry when they’re already sitting on unused spectrum. Let’s put the mouse in charge of the cheese factory. This is an insult as BROADcasting is inherently more efficient than multiple cell sites any day of the week. What about all the comments made by engineers? Nothing in the R&O. This cell grab over incumbent broadcasters is disgusting as a minimum, and obscene abuse at its worst.
Kent Haehl says:
June 10, 2014 at 7:58 pm
What most people continue to miss is that wireless microphones are essential to all broadcast production–OTA as well as internet. The auction will kill all high quality wireless microphone systems, and thus kill the ability to produce good content. The FCC in it’s previous review of wireless microphones agreed to protect existing users and set aside clear channels for wireless microphones, but it appears they do not have the integrity to follow through. It fact it appears that Wheeler has been “bought” by the mobile phone giants. Unacceptable.