The Federal Communications Commission is in the midst of piecing together the framework for the planned 600 MHz incentive auction, one of the most highly anticipated spectrum auctions in recent memory. That anticipation is not just due to the potential market-changing characteristics of the spectrum set to be put up for grabs, but also for the manner in which the auction is going to be conducted.
Unlike traditional spectrum auctions where entities bid on set spectrum blocks, the incentive auction will also run concurrently with a reverse-auction process that will have television broadcasters bidding to accept the lowest amount of money for spectrum in a particular market.
The FCC in May came out with initial rules for the auction proceedings, and has since gone on the offensive in attempting to lure broadcasters to participate in the process.
The FCC is scheduled over the next couple of months to release additional rulings and open public comment on the process, steps that are expected to further solidify the auction proceedings. RCR Wireless News spoke with Trey Hanbury, a partner in Hogan Lovell’s Washington, D.C., office and a member of the law firm’s Technology, Media and Telecoms practice on the importance of the FCC’s plans.
The firm recently released a listing of seven moves the FCC has on its docket, including:
–An open meeting to release a draft notice of proposed rulemaking regarding Part 15, which will propose to divide the 11-megahertz duplex gap between license blocks for use by unlicensed devices, and licensed and unlicensed wireless microphones.
–The release of an NPRM on construction deadlines and possible assistance for low-power television stations.
–An inter-service interference declaratory ruling linked to how the FCC classifies television station coverage areas and population requirements.
–An inter-service interference order and further NPRM to address how the FCC deals with potential interference between television broadcasters and wireless broadband services using the 600 MHz band.
–A competitive bidding NPRM in which the FCC will decide if it will allow bidders to form joint-bidding arrangements as well as updates to its always-controversial designated entity rules, which provide bidding discounts for certain entities based on their economic size.
–And the opening of a public comment period on the auction process, which while it may not draw the same level of public attention as the ongoing net neutrality proceedings, is expected to see considerable attention from both wireless operators and television broadcasters.
Of course, all of this will be happening in the shadow of the already-scheduled AWS-3 (Auction 97) spectrum auction scheduled to begin on Nov. 13. While perhaps not seen as “sexy” as the 600 MHz spectrum process, the AWS-3 auction will include 65 megahertz of spectrum in the 1.7/2.1 GHz band that is seen as prime airwaves to help bolster capacity of current LTE deployments as well as having become sort of a de-facto worldwide LTE band.
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