Attorney David Oxenford of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has a good overview of what procedures broadcasters might expect from the FCC in the matter of repacking and auctioning of television broadcast spectrum. Link: Broadcast Law Blog. Trackback (posted 20 Feb. 2012).
Updated 22 Feb. 2012: Attorney Stephen Coran of Rini Coran PC also has a good overview of provisions of this legislation. It goes in somewhat different directions than the Oxenford post from yesterday. Link: TelecomMediaTech Law Blog (posted 21 Feb. 2012).
And Attorney Rob Schill of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth also has a useful analysis of the provisions of this legislation. Link: CommLawBlog (posted 18 Feb. 2012).
There has been some talk within the television industry of giving up part of one’s spectrum for remuneration. It appears that the only way to accomplish that would be to forgo reimbursements for repacking costs or to consolidate operations with another station or stations on a single channel.
Updated 24 Feb. 2012: The legislation which created this spectrum auction authority is contained in H.R. 3630, the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012,” now signed by the president. Link: Library of Congress [pdf].
Here’s Kim McAvoy’s in-depth report on the legislation. Link: TVNewsCheck (posted 17 Feb. 2012).
Updated 25 Feb. 2012: VP Technology for NBC Stations, Doug Lung, takes up some engineering aspects of this in his regular column. Link: TVTechnology.
Updated 28 Feb. 2012: Here is another good legal analysis of provisions in this legislation in the form of Harry Jessell’s interview with attorney John Hane of Pullsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Link: TVNewsCheck.
--Dennis
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