Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Incentive Auctions May Threaten Mobile TV, Warns NAB

By atesmeh | July 15, 2011

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) warned lawmakers on Capitol Hill today that a proposal to allow the FCC to auction off broadcast spectrum could undermine mobile television.

It would be “virtually impossible” for broadcasters to launch mobile television services if they were forced to move to a lower band as a result of the proposed spectrum auctions, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith said at a hearing today on spectrum and public safety before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

“If, as part of the television band reallocations, stations are moved from the UHF band to the VHF band, the deployment of mobile DTV will be severely limited,” Smith said in his written testimony. “It is well established that operating Mobile DTV in the VHF band is very challenging and virtually impossible in low VHF where ground noise causes harmful interference.”

The FCC wants lawmakers to let it conduct voluntary auctions of television broadcast spectrum which would allow companies to sell off under-used television airwaves. The spectrum would then be used for mobile broadband services. The NAB has been wary of the plan, warning that broadcasters may be forced to relinquish their spectrum.

Smith wants Congress to mandate that no station is forced to share a channel with another station or required to move to a channel in a different band as a result of the proposed auctions.

Smith also asked the committee to limit the FCC a one-time-only auction of voluntarily relinquished television broadcast spectrum, arguing that “multiple auctions could severely undermine broadcasters’ ability to attract capital for long-term investment.”

CTIA also testified at the hearing. Chris Guttman-McCabe, the group’s vice president of regulatory affairs, asked lawmakers to be more aggressive in their efforts to free up spectrum currently used by the government. Guttman-McCabe also expressed some concern about provisions in pending incentive auction legislation that could make it difficult to clear the bands after the spectrum is sold.

The Congressional hearing on spectrum and public safety comes amid a flurry of legislative activity this week on a bill that would advance the creation of a national mobile broadband network for public safety and allow the FCC to conduct voluntary auctions of broadcast spectrum.

Yesterday, California Democrat representatives Henry Waxman, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Anna Eshoo, ranking member of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, circulated their own version of the legislation.

The draft bill was the second to hit the House this week, after Michigan Democrat John Dingell and Texas Democrat Gene Green introduced their own version of the legislation on Monday.

The competing House bills are companion legislation to a similar proposal making its rounds in the Senate. Lawmakers are trying to get the bill passed before the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Separately, a proposal that would create a five-year moratorium on discriminatory state and local taxes on wireless services passed the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, and will now go before a full Congressional vote. The legislation’s companion bill in the Senate is still in committee.

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more