FCC To Offer Incentives To Free Spectrum
The FCC plans to free up a large swath of wireless broadband spectrum -- totaling 500 megahertz -- over the next decade, but for now, it won't force television broadcasters to relinquish any airwaves, Congress Daily reported. Instead, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced Wednesday that the agency will seek to incentivize TV stations and other licensees to give up bandwidth in exchange for a cut of the auction proceeds. Additional frequencies would be reclaimed through increased spectrum efficiency and sharing.
The FCC has repeatedly warned of a looming spectrum crisis. It needs to identify more airwaves to meet the anticipated surge in mobile demand from its upcoming national broadband plan, to be unveiled at its March 16 meeting. The plan will include a series of recommendations for policymakers, including the proposals he outlined Wednesday. Even though the FCC has authorized a threefold increase in commercial spectrum for mobile broadband in recent years, "that increase will not allow us to keep pace with an estimated thirtyfold increase in traffic," Genachowski said during a speech at the New America Foundation think tank.
The voluntary approach is the least onerous for broadcasters of the several ideas the agency has floated, including forcing stations to relinquish half their spectrum and double up on transmission towers. Broadcast airwaves are appealing for wireless broadband because of their exceptional propagation characteristics and potential to raise tens of billions of dollars in auction revenue, Genachowski said, adding that TV spectrum is not being used as efficiently as it could be.
"Broadcasters are ready to make the case that we are far and away the most efficient users of spectrum in today's communications marketplace," National Association of Broadcasters spokesman Dennis Wharton responded in a statement. NAB supports expanding broadband deployment "without threatening the future of free and local television," he said. To read more, click here (Subscription required).
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