FCC decides to delay decision on rules for 600 MHz auction

The FCC commissioners met today with a goal of establishing rules for an auction of 600 MHz spectrum scheduled to take place in 2016. The auction is shaping up to be one of the more complex actions undertaken by the FCC as they try to move spectrum from use by television broadcasters to use by mobile carriers. This change is compounded by the FCC’s desire to not see the large wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T use their deep war chests of funds to buy up the available spectrum. Today the FCC announced they have delayed a decision on the final rules until at least their next meeting on August 6th.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler issued the following statement regarding the delay,

“In the spirit of cooperation that has marked our work together on the incentive auctions, I am today postponing Commission consideration of this order and the related reconsideration of the mobile spectrum holdings order until the Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting on August 6. I believe that even with this delay we will be able to stay on course for the first quarter of 2016.”

Sources believe part of the reason for the delay is some new data produced by the Incentive Auction Task Force made available after their latest round of computer simulations predicting the results of the auction. The National Association of Broadcasters issued a response to the simulations expressing concern as to whether it was done properly. Earlier this week T-Mobile lobbyist and former representative Henry Waxman had proposed some compromise rules for consideration. Waxman was one of the architects of the legislation authorizing the auction when he was a member of Congress.

source: Android Headlines

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