Deborah D. McAdams / 12.19.2012 09:14AM
FCC Issues Anonymous Filing Directive for Incentive Auction Comments
DMA and network affiliation must be provided
WASHINGTON – The Federal
Communications Commission is relaxing its comment filing rules to allow
anonymous feedback on its TV spectrum incentive auction proposed rulemaking.
The intent is to allow TV station owners interested in participating in the
auctions to remain unidentified.
“We want to encourage those broadcasters interested
in auction participation to raise issues of specific concern to them regarding
the incentive auction process so that we may develop a robust record to assist us
in devising auction-related rules,” the Public Notice states. “At the same
time, we recognize that broadcasters may have legitimate reasons for not
wanting to disclose their potential interest in reverse auction participation.”
Existing rules require that comments filed electronically by parties not
represented by an attorney provide their names and mailing addresses. Those
filing through an attorney may do so anonymously either electronically or by
paper. Those wishing to file electronically without an attorney must seek a
waiver of the commission rule requiring their name and address. However, the commission
asks that broadcasters filing anonymous comments in the incentive auction
proceeding include their designated market area tier and network affiliation.