Butler Reiterates: Most Noncommercials Not Giving Up Spectrum

Association of Public Television Stations President Patrick Butler reiterated that the channel sharing pilot program one of his members -- KLCS Los Angeles -- is participating in is not meant to prove that "all" broadcasters can get by with half their spectrum, but that technology can drive innovation.

In a speech to the 2014 Public Media Summit, Butler made it clear that public broadcasters were "here to stay." He pointed out that he had "clarified" that the pilot, being conducted with commercial stations, under the auspices of CTIA: The Wireless Communications Association and with the blessing of the FCC, "is not to prove that all broadcasters can get by with half the spectrum they're currently using - - no, no - - but to show that all kinds of good things can happen -- for broadcasters and for the public -- with advances in compression technology and innovative business arrangements that permit the sharing of significant costs between stations." He also reiterated that the "overwhelming majority" of public TV stations would not be giving up spectrum to the auction and would use all that innovative technology to "improve and expand their essential public service missions in American's communities....We are broadcasters, determined to be better broadcasters and more versatile public servants, and we are here to stay," he said.