[opendtv] New Spectrum Bill Authorizes Auction Revenue Sharing

From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:48:20 -0500
"It asks for the examination of spectrum between 'at least 100 MHz and 10 GHz,' 
over a diverse geographic region for "an appropriate period of time."

They seem to want to expand the FCC's spectrum-grab, which only began at 225 
MHz. This would include half of the FM band too, along with a plethora of 
taxicab, public transportation, airport, and marine VHF.

Wow. It may be just what we need to move so-called HD Radio along. Mot to 
mention, digitize a lot of these other commercial bands.

"It also calls for the auction revenue-sharing plan for licensees who give up 
spectrum voluntarily."

I think this means that stations that agree to share a single 6 MHz channel 
will each be compensated for clearing out the one 6 MHz channel. Fair enough.

Bert

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http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/103708

New Spectrum Bill Authorizes Auction Revenue Sharing
07.20.2010.

WASHINGTON: A spectrum bill authorizing the sharing of auction proceeds was 
unveiled on Capitol Hill Monday. Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and John Kerry 
(D-Mass.) rolled out the Spectrum Measurement and Policy Reform Act requiring a 
study on "spectrum occupancy and use." It also expressly authorizes revenue 
sharing for licensees who voluntarily relinquish spectrum--as proposed for 
broadcasters in the FCC's National Broadband Plan.

"We can and should know how our spectrum is being used and do more to encourage 
more efficient and productive use," Sen. Kerry said in a joint statement with 
Sen. Snowe.

The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission and the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration to determine not just who's 
using what band of spectrum, but how much and for how long.

It would give the Secretary of Commerce the authority to "refuse assigning 
frequencies to mobile radio or other radio service," and to collect fees from 
licensees. It also calls for the auction revenue-sharing plan for licensees who 
give up spectrum voluntarily. The bill further requires a cost-benefit analysis 
of spectrum reallocation, including "overall costs and time frames of any 
potential move."

It asks for the examination of spectrum between "at least 100 MHz and 10 GHz," 
over a diverse geographic region for "an appropriate period of time." It also 
asks that future occupancy and usage patterns by existing licensees and 
government users be predicted, and to correlate those predictions with past 
usage.

It directs the FCC and the NTIA to determine the benchmarks for the study 
within a year of the bill's enactment. Those include an analysis of 
spectrum-sharing at "120 MHz below 4 GHz." A subsequent pilot program on 
spectrum-sharing is to be done a year after the analysis is completed, with a 
report due to the Senate Commerce Committee in eight months.

A total of $10 million is allocated for the task; $5 million for fiscal 2011 
and another $5 billion for fiscal 2012.

Previous spectrum bills called for usage inventories, but neither contained the 
detail of Kerry and Snowe's latest entry. H.R. 3125, requires the FCC and NTIA 
to catalog usage between 225 MHz and 10 GHz, including how many translators, 
repeaters, transmitters and end users there are for a given frequency. The bill 
was passed by the House in June and placed on the Senate calendar. H.R. 3019 
provided a reimbursement framework for booted incumbents, but H.R. 3125 beat it 
to the floor. --Deborah D. McAdams
 
 
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[opendtv] New Spectrum Bill Authorizes Auction Revenue Sharing

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