White House Builds Support for Spectrum Auction

A panel event hosted by the White House on April 6 highlighted support for legislation allowing the FCC to compensate broadcasters for returned spectrum. Voluntary spectrum auctions are a market-friendly solution to free up spectrum for public safety and wireless broadband.

The event featured a talk by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, as well as a panel of economists who support the legislation. Additionally, 112 other economists from around the country submitted a letter in support of the measure.

The letter outlines the benefits of an incentive auction, which would give broadcasters a wider ranger of options and much greater autonomy over government seizure. According to the letter, with spectrum auctions broadcasters would be able to:

• "Volunteer to relinquish their spectrum in exchange for a portion of the auction proceeds."
• "Volunteer to share spectrum in exchange for lease payments."
• "Volunteer to move from a UHF channel to a VHF channel in return for compensation."
• "Choose to stay put" and "to do nothing."

CWA and the White House have championed voluntary spectrum auctions. According to FCC Chairman Genachowski, freeing up broadband with incentive auctions is "the single most important step we can take."

White House Hosts Spectrum Auction Event (Broadcasting & Cable)