FCC Proposes Upholding Incentive Auction Framework

The Federal Communications Commission has completed its consideration of more than two dozen petitions to reconsider its initial broadcast incentive auction framework, released last June, and with the exception of a handful of technical and nonsubstantive changes, has reaffirmed that decision and framework as is. Apparently, a draft order was circulated to the commissioners May 6 responding to those requests for reconsideration. That is a big procedural step, but does not address various substantive matters being dealt with in separate notices of proposed rulemaking and separate reconsideration petitions. Apparently there are a few minor technical changes and clarifications related to how station coverage areas are calculated and interference, but nothing described as groundbreaking.