Sinclair Counters Cash-For-Spectrum Plan

The Federal Communications Commission's "cash-for-spectrum" trial balloon has stirred up broadcasters as little else has over the past several years. It has also brought them together in opposition to the proposal, despite its promise that stations would share in the proceeds from the auctioning of the spectrum to wireless operators. Among those rising in protest is Sinclair Broadcast Group, the Baltimore-based group with 58 TV stations in 35 markets. Sinclair was part of a coalition of station groups along with LIN, Nexstar and others that dutifully expressed its objections in formal comments on the FCC's proposal. A Q&A with Mark Aitken, Sinclair's director of advanced technology, hits on why Sinclair isn't interested in giving up any of its spectrum: mobile DTV.