FCC Chairman Confronts Broadcasters
April 13, 2010
| 4:34 PM
LAS VEGAS -- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski held firm Tuesday to his position that a large swath of television spectrum should be reassigned to mobile carriers to head off a broadband spectrum shortage, dismissing broadcast industry concerns as "hyperbole," CongressDaily reported.
Addressing the National Association of Broadcasters convention, Genachowski launched into a long, vigorous defense of his agency's recommendation that stations relinquish some of their frequencies in exchange for a cut of the proceeds from a spectrum auction. The agency is seeking to reallocate more than a third of TV airwaves to wireless Internet service providers, a key element of its 10-year plan to expand broadband service across the country.
The FCC chairman, who has kept a low profile at the event, met behind the scenes with TV executives and participated Monday in an unannounced tour of the showroom floor. He also reiterated concerns that demand for mobile Internet bandwidth is on track to exceed supply. "This is not a theory or idle speculation; it's math and physics," Genachowski said of the looming spectrum shortage. "If we wait for the crisis to hit, it will be too late to act without significant cost to our economy and global competitiveness," he added.
While the NAB has cried foul and warned that the future of over-the-air reception would be threatened, Genachowski sought to reframe the debate by insisting that TV outlets actually would benefit from the approach. "The intention of the proposal is to provide broadcasters with more choice and flexibility, not less. More business model options, not fewer," he said.
During his Monday keynote address, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith excoriated the FCC, which he accused of orchestrating a "spectrum grab" that would deny the most vulnerable Americans -- including the elderly and poor -- the ability to receive free TV programming. On Tuesday, Smith struck a more conciliatory tone, telling the crowd after Genachowski spoke: "His thoughts were reassuring, and we will reach back constructively." To read more, click here. (Subscription required)
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