FCC Plans to Defer Co-Primary Designation for Wireless in Broadcast Band

According to sources inside and outside the Federal Communications Commission, the commission will not re-designate wireless broadband a co-primary user of broadcast spectrum in its April 27 vote to create the initial framework for channel sharing, part of its move to reclaim broadcast spectrum to for wireless.

Broadcasters have argued against the re-designation, particularly early in the process, years before the spectrum is actually reclaimed. "A co-primary designation will devalue local television station before a single wireless license is issued by introducing substantial regulatory uncertainty into the television industry," broadcast groups argued in a filing over a year ago. A more targeted re-designation will likely come further down the line, when it applies only to the channels actually reallocated to wireless rather than the entire band. The FCC voted unanimously back in 2010 to propose making wireless a co-primary user. But delaying that decision is a victory for the National Association of Broadcasters, which two weeks ago made a personal pitch to FCC officials that the decision on the co-primary designation should not be made until after the commission had come up with a plan for the reverse incentive auctions, according to an ex parte filing reported by TV Technology.