FCC Caved To Congressional Pressure on TV Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission's decision to mothball controversial proposals that would have forced television broadcasters to relinquish up to half their spectrum was prompted by more than just industry opposition.

House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) revealed that pressure from congressional Democrats played a significant role. "I have signed letters along with other members and I have had discussions at the commission indicating that the forced approach was wrong," he said during a Tuesday speech to the National Association of Broadcasters. Speaking to reporters, Chairman Boucher elaborated that he and former Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) were among the signatories of a letter to the FCC, sent when they first learned stations could be forced to cede spectrum, urging the agency to back off. The congressman doesn't want the commission to take any steps that might undermine the TV industry's historic switch last June to digital transmissions.