Last week, the Competitive Carrier Association (CCA) released a paper arguing that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) randomly selected timeline for completion of broadcaster relocation following the auction is right on the mark. Determining how to develop a timeline for a nationwide repack of broadcasters involves complex engineering challenges, so of course CCA hired . … Continue reading Despite Not Knowing Where to Aim, CCA Thinks FCC Hit the Mark
The Best Things in Life Are Free (Even When You’re Worth More Than Half a Trillion Dollars)
“I don’t care how much money you have, free stuff is always a good thing.” - Queen Latifah While I don’t believe that Queen Latifah had Google in mind when she uttered this well-known line, she might as well have. Google has a lot of money. Not just a lot of money, but A LOT … Continue reading The Best Things in Life Are Free (Even When You’re Worth More Than Half a Trillion Dollars)
ATVA: What Acorn?
The American Television Alliance (ATVA) – the pay-TV industry’s leading voice these days – needs our collective help. It appears that our friends are suffering from a serious case of Chicken Little Syndrome. You remember Chicken Little, right? That’s the poor little chicken who believed that the sky was falling after she was hit on … Continue reading ATVA: What Acorn?
Local TV Stations: Bastions of Investigative Journalism
In her New York Times column, “The Search for Local Investigative Reporting’s Future” (Dec. 5), Margaret Sullivan bemoans the uncertainty surrounding newspapers’ future investment in enterprise reporting that roots out corruption and exposes illicit behavior in local communities. What Ms. Sullivan should not forget is that local television broadcasters are picking up the mantle of … Continue reading Local TV Stations: Bastions of Investigative Journalism
Revisionist History, Cable Goodies and Still Nothing for Consumers
On Tuesday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler’s Media Bureau chief, Bill Lake, took to the blogosphere in an attempt to reverse the palpable lack of enthusiasm for the Chairman’s plan to eliminate the broadcast TV exclusivity rules. Unfortunately, Mr. Lake’s written defense of the Chairman’s proposal is fatally flawed and obscures the larger … Continue reading Revisionist History, Cable Goodies and Still Nothing for Consumers
Some Changes for a More Balanced Auction
Yesterday, NAB filed a limited petition for reconsideration of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent “Procedures Public Notice” laying out additional details concerning the forthcoming broadcast spectrum incentive auction. First, we’re asking the Commission to reconsider its decision to relocate TV stations in the duplex gap, which eliminates the only remaining exclusive use spectrum available … Continue reading Some Changes for a More Balanced Auction
Program Exclusivity, Part III: Haven’t We All Seen This Movie Before?
An old adage says that those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. In the world of communications, I would posit a variation on that adage: Those who have lived through regulatory controversies are doomed to repeat them – forever. As one who has witnessed many regulatory controversies since 1978, I am … Continue reading Program Exclusivity, Part III: Haven’t We All Seen This Movie Before?
Attempting to Hold the FCC to the Law on Effective Competition
Scott Goodwin, associate general counsel, National Association of Broadcasters, joins guest blogger Steve Traylor, executive director and general counsel, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. Today, our organizations – the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) – along with a local franchise authority in Minnesota, … Continue reading Attempting to Hold the FCC to the Law on Effective Competition
The Mandatory “Upgrade” the FCC Forgot
In a blog last week claiming credit for “upgrading” the FCC’s “media rules” to reflect today’s marketplace, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler neglected to even mention the mother of all media rules, the broadcast ownership restrictions. Unfortunately, this conspicuous omission should come as no surprise. Despite Congress expressly requiring the FCC to regularly update its ownership … Continue reading The Mandatory “Upgrade” the FCC Forgot
What to Expect When You Are Expecting (TV White Spaces Comments)
Last month, NAB filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to amend certain rules governing the use of TV White Spaces (TVWS) devices. In particular, we asked the FCC to require fixed TVWS devices to eliminate the illusory notion of “professional installation,” an undefined concept that allows an installer to enter the location … Continue reading What to Expect When You Are Expecting (TV White Spaces Comments)
