UPDATE The FCC spent a lot of time configuring the spectrum auction and treated the repack as an afterthought; but there’s still time to fix it.
That’s the gist of what NAB is saying to the Commission now; the broadcast association wants the agency to alter several aspects of the channel repack plan for television broadcasters. If the agency doesn’t make these proposed changes, the repack will take longer, cost more and cause more disruption than it has to, according to NAB. Inside Towers reported this yesterday and covers it more in-depth here.
As it is, the repack may make the auction itself look simple, says NAB, which acknowledges many decisions related to the auction made years ago are now “irreversible.” But the Commission can still take steps now to implement a transition plan that treats all stakeholders fairly and protects viewers and listeners from disruption, says NAB, noting the current plan also fails to take into account the potential impact on non-repacked stations, like FM radio stations. They will need to draw upon many of the same tower crews as TV stations will.
“The Commission declined to use the $1.75 billion relocation fund established by Congress as a repacking budget and instead took an unconstrained approach to repacking, desperate to clear spectrum that wireless carriers ultimately did not even want for three full stages of bidding,” says NAB. “This means that the Commission will repack far more stations than necessary, and far more than can likely be fully reimbursed.”
The repack will present the most challenging transition the Commission has ever overseen. NAB suggests the Commission dedicate someone to oversee the repack, or hire someone to do it, rather than essentially hoping the current plan works. The agency’s decision that stations need to vacate their current channel after 39 months even if their new facility is not finished should be reconsidered as new facts are becoming available; reconsideration is in the public interest, believes NAB, which adds the full Commission should direct the Media Bureau to grant reasonable extensions of time.
March 21, 2017
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