CTIA today filed a motion with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to intervene in support of the FCC over the lawsuit filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
The NAB and the Sinclair Broadcast Group are petitioning for a review of an FCC order establishing rules for the upcoming Incentive Auctions. The lawsuit is challenging the FCC’s order, saying it doesn’t do enough to protect broadcasters who opt out of the forward auctions and don’t give up their spectrum.
In an FCC filing, CTIA said it “actively participated in the agency proceedings below, and its interests will be substantially affected by this Court’s review of the challenged order.”
Scott Bergmann, vice president of regulatory affairs at CTIA, sided with the FCC’s Incentive Auction Order and stressed it will lead to a “timely and successful” auction.
“We believe that the FCC has struck the right balance in implementing the bipartisan direction of Congress, and we will continue to work with all parties and in all venues to ensure that the Commission is ready to hold the auction on a timely basis and that consumers emerge as winners,” Bergmann said in a statement.
The FCC is working on the rules and structure for the auction of 600 MHz spectrum, currently occupied by low-power broadcasters. The Commission recently announced clarification of the repacking methodology that will be used for the spectrum after the auction, and also took steps free up more white space in the band for after the auction when fewer frequencies will be available in the UHF band.
Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications