NAB Challenges FCC'S Auction Order

The National Association of Broadcasters filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging certain elements of the Federal Communications Commission’s May 2014 broadcast spectrum incentive auction order.

The NAB challenged, among other things, the FCC decision to change the methodology used to predict local television coverage areas and population served, which could result in significant loss of viewership of broadcast TV stations after the FCC "repacks" TV stations into a shrunken TV band.

The petition also states that the FCC failed to take steps to preserve licensees' coverage areas in repacking, and that the FCC erred in failing to ensure proper protections for broadcast translators, transmitters that help boost the coverage of broadcast TV programming to more rural and remove viewers.