The National Association of Broadcasters would like the FCC to write a check for as much as $1.75 billion post-incentive auction repack funding for broadcasters.

The new allocation along with the first tranche will fall short of the expected total

The House Energy & Commerce Committee Wednesday (Feb. 14) will mark up a bill that will include a valentine to broadcasters (and potentially some cable operators)--more money for the post-incentive auction repack.

Congress wants the repack schedule to remain unchanged as made evident by a letter from nearly five dozen members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, which was sent to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

The latest sum is in addition to the $1 billion originally allocated in October 2017

The FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau have announced the second filing window for TV stations that want to file alternate channels or expanded facilities in the post broadcast incentive auction repack.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears to agree with broadcasters that Congress’ proposal of $1.75 billion for post-incentive auction repack relocation fees will not be enough.

In a recent blog post, Sinclair’s VP of engineering Harvey Arnold said critics of the proposed merger between Sinclair and Tribune are wrong when they suggest the company would use its new size to delay the repack of TV stations.