FCC's Wheeler: We Can't Give Broadcasters Blanket Info On Spectrum Value

During a Senate Financial Services Subcommittee hearing. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said that the FCC will start meeting with broadcasters in individual markets to give them a sense of what their spectrum will be worth at auction, but that it cannot provide that information on a blanket basis.

Broadcasters have been looking for answers out of the FCC given that they have to make business decisions about whether to keep their spectrum and how and whether to share spectrum. The FCC is expected to vote a spectrum auction item by its May meeting, and Chairman Wheeler appeared to fuel that speculation with a timetable for discussing the plan at the FCC and on the Hill starting next week. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) asked when broadcasters would be given some regulatory certainty about how much their spectrum will be worth in the auction. "There is a lot of focus on the nature of the auction," Sen Moran said, "and how that is going to occur. What I think may be missing is whether there is going to be any spectrum to auction. You talked earlier about the business community needing certainty. When can broadcasters begin to understand what their company's spectrum may be worth.” Sen Moran pointed out that they have to enter into contracts for towers and employees and to plan their businesses. He said he was sure the question would come up when Chairman Wheeler addresses broadcasters at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. Chairman Wheeler offered a timeline. He said next week he would start talking about the auction framework -- "working through the options and narrowing it down" -- with other commissioners, as well as sharing thoughts about how to structure the auction with members of Congress.