Spectrum hoarding heads to the House in April

The House Communications Subcommittee will hold a hearing in April on spectrum issues, Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said. Topics at the hearing will include incentive auctions as well as allegations that wireless and cable companies are hoarding airwaves rather than deploying them. He is skeptical that the Federal Communications Commission’s plan for reclaiming a large swath of broadcast spectrum from broadcasters is as voluntary as the FCC claims it is. "What’s voluntary?” he asked during a Media Institute speech. “When I hear voluntary, and I hear $27.8 billion and I hear repacking and then I hear what the FCC chairman said this week, it doesn't sound very voluntary.”