Chairman Wheeler Addresses Spectrum Auction Questions

After a contentious Federal Communications Commission monthly meeting foreshortened when two controversial topics about the broadcast spectrum incentive auction were dropped from the agenda, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler faced a news conference where, predictably, the major interest was in those two topics.

"I feel comfortable that we will be able to issue a public notice [about the auction] in three weeks," Chairman Wheeler said, insisting that his August 6 target date will stick for a vote on auction procedures. "We are working toward a solution that will make sure that there is a majority vote," he said. "When we bring it up, that will happen." He offered no details about how he plans to assure that both Democratic commissioners vote with him. Although Chairman Wheeler sidestepped the question of whether he can tailor the "duplex gap" issue in a way that will convince Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to vote with him, Chairman Wheeler expounded on the data that explain solutions for spectrum repacking, which is believed to be at the core of Rosenworcel's dissatisfaction with the current plan. Several reports noted that Chairman Wheeler pulled the auction items because of Rosenworcel's reticence rather than because of congressional or NAB requests based on the release of limited repacking simulations.