WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on 12 December began preparations to auction U.S. television channels 52-59 to fixed and mobile-wireless providers notwithstanding the fact that the spectrum in the lower 700 MHz band will not be available until at least 2007.
Congress has mandated the FCC auction this spectrum before 30 September, but a similar auction for television channels 60-69 that was supposed to happen in 2000 has yet to occur and is now currently scheduled for June.
The spectrum is being made available as part of television’s transition to digital.
Television broadcasters are not required to vacate the spectrum until 31 December, 2006, and at least 85 percent of the homes in their area are capable of receiving digital signals.
