NEW ORLEANS-Bidders in the upcoming 700 MHz auction should be able to negotiate with incumbent broadcasters to facilitate a quicker transition to digital TV and the faster rollout of wireless broadband, said William Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, in his CTIA 2000 keynote speech last week.
“I urge incumbent broadcasters to negotiate voluntarily with incoming licensees so that this valuable spectrum can be used quickly to its maximum capacity,” Kennard said. “While negotiations and voluntary agreements to accelerate moving to new assignments can be accomplished under existing case-by-case waivers, I would like to see an easier, more market-driven process.”
Successful negotiations could help finance the equipment broadcasters need for their transmission, said Thomas Sugrue, chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
“Those funds could be used for the technology that the broadcasters need to facilitate the transition to digital television … I think it can be a win-win if we get away from quick reactions,” Sugrue said.
The quick reactions Sugrue may have been referring to were in a statement released by FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani expressing concern that the FCC chairman would pressure broadcasters to vacate their channels 60-69 in favor of wireless.
“I am not convinced that pressing TV broadcast licensees to prematurely vacate channels 60-69 is in the public interest,” Tristani said. “In the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress specifically protected broadcasters operating in channels 60-69 during the digital transition in order to ensure that the public is not deprived of free, over-the-air broadcast service until the transition is complete. We ought to respect Congress’ judgment.”
Tristani’s statement was echoed by Bryan Tramont, wireless legal adviser to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth.
“It is not clear from our office’s point of view that government needs to be involved … We are not in a position to move broadcasters along the process until 2006,” Tramont said.
