Major Broadcast Groups Push 126 MHz Auction Target

Some major broadcasters are telling the Federal Communications Commission that they will need the commission to set a spectrum-clearing target before the incentive auction in order to better decide whether or not to participate. According to an ex parte filing with the FCC, representatives of Fox, Ion, Tribune and Univision met with FCC officials to make the point that if the FCC wants to maximize broadcasters participation in the auction -- it does -- it should set a target of 126 MHz (on the high end of the FCC's estimation of what it could clear) and do so before the deadline for applications for the auction, which would mean by the end of 2015 -- the auction is targeted for early 2016. The more spectrum the FCC tries to get, the more money it will have to pay broadcasters to get it. The groups collectively represent stations that amount to more than 5 billion MHz pops of broadcast spectrum (the FCC values spectrum using the "per pop" measure, a calculation based on the population reached and value of the spectrum), including in markets where wireless demand is high.