FCC tentatively sets March 29, 2016, as start date for 600 MHz incentive auction

The Federal Communications Commission currently plans to start 2016's incentive auction of 600 MHz broadcast TV spectrum on March 29, 2016. That would keep the agency just on target to meet FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's goal of starting the complex auction in the first quarter of 2016, which ends March 31. During the week of July 13, the FCC postponed its vote on rules for the incentive auction until Aug. 6 after pressure from Congress to push back the vote that had been planned for the agency's July 16 meeting.

The FCC is going to allow more time for stakeholders, including broadcasters and carriers, to review information to the FCC and submit filings on the rules. Accordingly, the FCC moved that agenda item onto its list of items that are currently "on circulation," meaning that they are being reviewed by the FCC's five commissioners before being voted on before the full commission. The item is titled: "Broadcast Incentive Auction to Begin March 29, 2016; Procedures for Competitive Bidding in Auction 1000, Including Initial Clearing Target Determination, Qualifying to Bid, and Bidding in Auctions 1001 (Reverse) and 1002 (Forward)." Chairman Wheeler reiterated his first-quarter start date goal despite the delay in the vote.