FCC’s Wheeler says he’s banking upon 600 MHz auction taking place in March 2016

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Please tell me again who owns the airwaves.

FCC’s Wheeler says he’s banking upon 600 MHz auction taking place in March 2016

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator/September 9, 2015/

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler committed today to a March 29, 2016 start date for an incentive auction of 600Mhz wireless spectrum now under the control of the nation’s broadcasters.
....

The auction, already delayed by two years, will move forward, Wheeler said, on a timeline that will allow input from broadcasters as well as from carriers that would be the auction’s potential spectrum buyers.

The FCC plans to issue a new public notice in October that will give further details on the planned schedule. The FCC chief said that around Thanksgiving, broadcasters will be able to indicate whether they want to participate in offering up the spectrum they use today.

By the time the next CTIA show rolls around next year, “we will have concluded a successful incentive auction” and a process will be in place where 600 MHz spectrum will be available for new services, Wheeler said.

Dear FCC: Hire a proofreader:

A Groundbreaking Event for the Broadcast Television, Mobile Wireless, and Technology Sectors of the U.S. Economy

The Incentive Auction is an innovative new tool authorized by Congress to help the Commission meet the Nation’s growing spectrum needs. The first incentive auction is to be that of broadcast television spectrum. It will marry the economics of wireless providers’ demand for spectrum with the economics of television broadcasters, the current holders of spectrum allow {sic} market forces to determine the highest and best uses of spectrum.

Specifically, the first ever incentive auction of television broadcast spectrum will permit television broadcasters to voluntarily go off the air, share their spectrum or move channels in exchange for receiving part of the proceeds from auctioning that spectrum to wireless providers to support 211st century {sic} wireless broadband needs.

The Learn Everything About Reverse Auctions Now Program (LEARN) is designed to provide broadcasters and all stakeholders with valuable information about the incentive auction and the potential financial opportunities it offers broadcasters who voluntarily decide to participate.

Broadcasters - LEARN More Here

A Game Changing Opportunity for Broadcasters

Congress authorized the incentive auction to help the Commission meet the Nation’s accelerating spectrum needs. During the “reverse auction” phase of the incentive auction, eligible full power and Class A television licensees will have the unique financial opportunity to voluntarily return some or all of their spectrum usage rights in exchange for a share of the proceeds from a “forward auction” of new licenses to use the repurposed spectrum for mobile broadband services. Robust participation by broadcasters will be critical to the incentive auction’s overall success.

The decision to participate in the incentive auction is entirely up to each individual broadcaster. They will make this decision based on their own assessment of their financial and business interests. The information provided here is intended to provide broadcasters with valuable information to assist their analysis of the incentive auction opportunities.

Information Package: “Incentive Auction Opportunities for Broadcasters”

The FCC asked the investment firm Greenhill and Co. to prepare an information package to assist broadcasters in their analysis of the compelling opportunities afforded by the incentive auction. The original information package describes how the auction will work and reviews the flexible multiple bidding options for broadcasters. It also includes FCC staff estimates of high end compensation that could be paid for broadcast spectrum rights in each market and IRS guidance on the tax implications of the incentive auction. The updated information package provides additional detail on different bid options, including channel sharing and UHF-to-VHF bids, and includes the FCC's proposed opening bid prices for going off-air.

Updated Information Package: “Incentive Auction Opportunities for Broadcasters”
Prepared by Greenhill and Co.

Information Package: “Incentive Auction Opportunities for Broadcasters”
Prepared by Greenhill and Co.

Letter from the Chairman
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has written a letter to broadcasters introducing the information package, which was prepared by the investment firm Greenhill and Co.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. I wonder what that chunk of spectrum's good for these days? nt