[opendtv] Senate Commerce Committee Passes Spectrum Auction Bill

From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 17:05:57 -0500
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/121552

Senate Commerce Committee Passes Spectrum Auction Bill
06.08.2011.

WASHINGTON: The Senate Commerce Committee today passed a bill authorizing the 
incentive auctions of TV airwaves, 21-4. The "Public Safety Spectrum and 
Wireless Innovation Act" provides the Federal Communications Commission with 
the authority to split auction proceeds with broadcasters who voluntarily 
relinquish spectrum to be used for wireless broadband. The legislation is part 
of a larger bill focused on creating a wireless public safety network. 
Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D.-W.V.) said he would push the bill to 
a floor vote as soon as possible.

"I intend to have conversations with leadership immediately about timing for a 
full vote by the Senate," Rockefeller said in a statement following the vote. 
"I strongly encourage my colleagues in the House to also move forward with this 
legislation so that we can sign it into law by September, the 10th anniversary 
of the 9/11 terrorist attacks."

Among other things, the bill would allocate the D block of 700 MHz spectrum for 
public safety. The commission failed to auction off the D Block during the 2008 
700 MHz auctions; it was then offered in a public-private configuration that no 
private entities found attractive enough to meet the minimum bid. This bill 
would allow public safety officials could lease capacity on their network when 
not in use, on a preemptible basis.

It also directs the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology to do research on wireless technologies.

With regard to incentive auctions, the proceeds would be split between 
broadcasters and the cost of building out the public safety network. They can 
also be spent to protect white spaces, per an amendment from Sen. Maria 
Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, home of Microsoft.

Microsoft was instrumental in opening up white spaces for unlicensed devices 
and is now vying to manage a white-space spectrum data base. White spaces 
consist of spectrum in the TV band not occupied by TV signals and traditionally 
left fallow to prevent interference. Relinquishment of certain TV licenses 
would result repacking the TV band, and possibly eliminating white spaces in 
certain markets.

Any surplus funds from incentive auctions would go to the Treasury. The 
committee expects that surplus to be "more than $10 billion."

Coleman Bazelon of the Brattle Group has estimated that incentive auctions 
could raise as much as $20 billion, but it all depends on how many broadcasters 
pony up how much spectrum. The general chatter in the broadcast community 
amounts to, "nothin' doin'." National Association of Broadcasters chief Gordon 
Smith issued a statement after today's vote, saying it would "work with 
policymakers to help ensure that broadcasters are able to deliver on the 
promise of free and local digital television made to tens of millions of 
viewers."

~ Deborah D. McAdams, Television Broadcast

 
 
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[opendtv] Senate Commerce Committee Passes Spectrum Auction Bill

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