My Account | Free Trial | Sign In
Submit site feedback
National Journal.com

nationaljournal.com > Tech Daily Dose

NationalJournal.com Home Tech Daily Dose Home Tech Daily Dose Home

National Journal's Tech Daily Dose

FCC

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Republican FCC member Meredith Baker, who played a key role in shifting television broadcasters to digital spectrum, is open to taking some of those airwaves away and reallocating them for wireless broadband use. "I think that all ideas should be on the table," she said Monday during the taping of an interview to run on C-SPAN this weekend, adding, "It might be part of the solution."

The agency, which has warned of a looming spectrum shortage, needs to identify more wireless frequencies to accommodate the goals to be outlined in a national broadband plan to be presented to Congress in February. Broadcasters oppose a recent plan floated by the FCC to repurpose some of the broadcasters' spectrum, arguing the move could undermine the provision of free, over-the-air programming.

Baker expressed hope that the matter can be resolved without acrimony -- and without the FCC being cast as anti-broadcaster. "I think we actually may come up with a solution that's a win-win," said Baker, who ran a federal coupon program at the Commerce Department during the Bush administration that issued vouchers lowering the cost of converter boxes. The interview will air Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on C-SPAN and Monday at 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. C-SPAN 2.

Leave a response



Get Print-friendly version of this page E-mail this page to a friend Subscribe to comments for FCC Member Open to Reallocating TV Spectrum Follow us on Twitter

Blogroll

New Media

Online Politics

Tech Policy

Categories


Add Tech Daily Dose To Your Site

Advertisement
About    Contact    Employment    Reprints & Back Issues    Privacy Policy    Advertising
Copyright 2010 by National Journal Group Inc.
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400· fax 202-833-8069 · NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.