This is a post about the upcoming Incentive Auctions proposed by the FCC. The objective of the incentive auction is to consolidate ("repack") the television broadcast band by moving some stations to other channels. In the process, the FCC hopes to clear at least 100 MHz of bandwidth for mobile data and other applications.
The auction has two parts:
PART 1 - CHANNEL BUYBACK: The FCC wants broadcast stations currently operating on conflicting channels to "voluntarily" move to other channels, or to consolidate their signals with other stations (thereby allowing two stations to operate within the same 6-MHz channel). In exchange, the FCC would pay participating stations big bucks to reimburse them for their costs. Congress has appropriated several million dollars for this purpose.
PART 2 - BANDWIDTH AUCTIONS: The cleared bandwidth would then be auctioned to mobile data providers or other users in accordance with established auction procedures.
Moderator Bill Horne has asked me to address the following questions:
[Q1] *HOW* does this affect telecom? [A1] Repacking TV channels is supposed to make spectrum space available for other services such as mobile data. Depending on the success of the auctions, as much as 100 MHz could be cleared.Further information:
- FCC:
- FierceWireless:
- WSJ:
- B&C:
- Policy Tracker:
FULL-POWER TELEVISION STATIONS. Full-power stations:
- Typically originate several hours of programming per week.
- Operate at power levels of 100 Kw. or more.
- Have "must-carry" rights for carriage by cable TV and Satellite TV retailers.
- Have protected channel assignments (cannot be bumped off channel by another full-power station).
- Are eligible to participate in the incentive auction.
CLASS A LOW-POWER TELEVISION STATIONS. Class A LPTV stations:
- Are identified by callsign suffix -CA (analog) or -CD (digital).
- Must originate at least two hours of local programming per week.
- Must operate a studio inside Grade B Contour
- Maximum power 15 Kw.
- Do NOT have must-carry rights.
- Have protected channel assignments.
- Are eligible to participate in the incentive auction.
NON-CLASS A LOW-POWER TELEVISION STATIONS. All other LPTV stations:
- Are identified by callsign suffix -LP.
- Usually originate some programming, not necessarily local.
- Maximum power 15 Kw.
- Do NOT have must-carry rights.
- Do NOT Have protected channel assignments.
- Are NOT eligible to participate in the incentive auction.
The importance of these distinctions: Full-power and Class A stations are eligible to participate in the incentive auction. Non-Class-A LPTVs are NOT eligible, and may lose their operating licenses in the process (but they may attempt to move if they can find a place to land).
[Q3] What is the "Incentive Auction"? What changes does it/will it make? [A3] See above. [Q4] Will "repacking" cause stations to have to buy new transmitters? [A3] Maybe, maybe not. If two stations share the same data stream from the same transmitter, then an existing digital TV transmitter might be sufficient. [Q4] Is it a "virtual" move, which just changes the channel numbers viewers see? [A4] Just the opposite. If a station's signal moves to a different frequency, the virtual channel number seen by the viewer stays the same (unless the station itself opts to do otherwise). Even if two stations share the same transmitter and the same 6-MHz channel, each can have a separate virtual channel number. [Q5] Will stations be given the option to share transmitters? [A5] Yes. They're encouraged to do so.Neal McLain