MSU did try to join the latest spectrum reverse auction and exit OTA TV
broadcasting, seeing a potential windfall of $$. However, at the first of two
planned public forums on the matter, there was so much overwhelming pushback
that they not only canceled the second forum, they dropped the plan to join the
auction. With the way the auction turned out, I don't think they would have
gotten what they were anticipating to receive anyway.
However, with ATSC 3.0, I think the time is ripe for your spectrum utility
idea. It will take someone with deep pockets and influence with the FCC to
pull it off, and it will take a redefinition of the requirements for a
broadcast license. Would a transmitter company such as Harris have enough
capitol to build out the infrastructure in a market, and would stations be open
to the idea of leasing spectrum rather than maintaining transmission
facilities? Would leased spectrum qualify for cable must carry? What would be
the criteria for an entity to qualify to lease spectrum? How do you reconcile
the current disparity between station ERP allocations from the digital
transition?
If the FCC (or the government) wants to further consolidate the TV spectrum to
free up another swath of electromagnetic real estate to auction off, the
spectrum utility idea may be the only choice. If all stations were co-located
and at equal power, then the channels could be contiguous just as they are in
cable.
----- Original Message -----
From: Craig Birkmaier
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
University of Florida owns two radio stations and a VHF PBS affiliate. Not
only is the spectrum valuable, but the real estate that the towers sit on is
quite valuable as well. If push comes to shove, and I think it will, these
kinds of assets are likely to be put on the chopping block soon.
If there is any traction for ATSC 3.0 - it is far from clear that many
stations and the broadcast networks are interested - then the most likely
scenario moving forward is likely to be local “spectrum utilities,” not much
different that what has happened with the cellular infrastructure. That is, the
spectrum will be pooled and a company created to operate the transmission
infrastructure, leasing access back to the statins that own the spectrum.
