Eight House Democrats asked acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon...
Eight House Democrats asked acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn not to adopt spectrum auction rules that exclude certain carriers from bidding in the forward auction. “We hope the commission will avoid any action that would serve as an impediment to…
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the successful build out of FirstNet,” said the letter sent to Clyburn Tuesday. “We are concerned that the commission may take action which would have the effect of excluding entities in the forward auction authorized by the [Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation] Act. All carriers should have a meaningful opportunity to bid for spectrum.” The letter asked the FCC to avoid repeating the “mistake” it made in the commission’s prior effort to auction the upper 700 MHz D Block spectrum for public safety use. “Instead we hope the commission will adopt transparent and simple rules to encourage participation by the broadest possible group of broadcasters and wireless providers because doing so will contribute in great part to a successful auction that in turn will generate the revenues needed to fulfill our shared commitment to public safety and achieve the other goals in the Act,” said the letter. It was signed by Reps. John Dingell of Michigan; Eliot Engel, N.Y,; G.K. Butterfield, N.C.; Gene Green, Texas; Bruce Braley, Iowa; Jim Matheson, Utah; John Barrow, Ga.; and Paul Tonko, N.Y. The FCC did not comment. The House Communications Subcommittee plans an oversight hearing on the FCC’s spectrum incentive auction, as was expected (CD July 11 p20), on July 23 at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn. Scheduled to testify are: NAB Executive Vice President-Strategic Planning Rick Kaplan; Gary Epstein, chairman of the FCC Incentive Auction Task Force; Preston Padden, executive director of the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition; Kathleen Ham, T-Mobile, vice president-federal regulatory affairs; Harold Feld, senior vice president of Public Knowledge; and Joan Marsh, AT&T vice president-federal regulatory affairs.