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Wireless and Broadcast Lobbies Seek More Time on Incentive Auction Comment Period
11/20/2012
WASHINGTON: The National
Association of Broadcasters and CTIA—The Wireless Association, have jointly
requested an extension of the comment period on the incentive auction
proceeding. The Federal Communications Commission initiated the proceeding
Sept. 28.
The deadline for comments is currently Dec. 21, 2012, with replies due Feb. 19,
2013. CTIA and NAB asked for a one-month extension of both, to Jan. 25 and
March 26, 2013, respectively.
“A limited extension is in the public interest to allow interested parties the
time necessary to address the complicated economic, engineering and policy
issues raised by the Incentive Auction Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and to
assist the commission in discharging its responsibilities under the… Spectrum
Act,” their filing stated.
They noted that the incentive auction NPRM, published in the Federal Register today, addressed a “wide range of issues,”
including the structure and timing of the reverse auction intended to provide
some idea of valuations, and the forward auction in which new participants
would buy broadcast spectrum. The NPRM also covers the process of repacking the
TV stations left standing after the auction, which is to take place in June of
2014. The TV spectrum incentive auction would be the first of its type ever
held by the FCC.
“The novelty and uniqueness of this auction require
that all interested parties thoroughly digest and analyze the complex set of
issues presented in order to ensure that the auction has the best chance for
success,” the filing from CTIA and NAB notes. “…we believe that this additional
period will ultimately expedite the process rather than delay it.”
The lobbies acknowledged that the FCC does not “routinely” grant extensions for
comment cycles, but argued that it was warranted “to ensure the commission receives
full and informed responses, and that affected parties have a meaningful opportunity
to develop a complete record for the commission’s consideration.”
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