FCC's Spectrum Auction May Get Slight Extension

The Federal Communications Commission has signaled it may need to go a couple more rounds with broadcasters as it dickers over the price of their spectrum, but that won’t be enough to affect the current schedule for wrapping up the first-of-its kind broadcast spectrum auction. The FCC said it may need a couple extra rounds to complete the reverse portion of the auction—broadcasters bidding to give up spectrum in exchange for a government payout, low bid wins. If all goes as planned, which means the FCC continues at a pace of three rounds per day as expected, the reverse auction, either phase one or phase “only,” depending on what happens in the forward auction, should wrap up June 29. But while the reverse auction was planned for 52 rounds, the FCC said that it could go 54 rounds depending on whether the final bidding status of any VHF stations has not yet been determined.