EOBC To FCC: Getting Channel-Sharing Rules Right is Crucial

In comments to the Federal Communications Commission, the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition says it agrees with the FCC proposal to allow TV stations to share channels outside of the incentive auction, and also says it should permit stations to change their community of license to do so. In a June 12 order reconsidering its original channel-sharing proposal, the FCC decided to allow sharing deals to be struck post-auction, something EOBC had sought, and also to allow stations not participating in the auction to strike sharing deals.

In addition to allowing stations to share with other stations outside of their community of license (but still within the same DMA)--necessitating the community of license change--EOBC says the FCC should adopt its proposal to allow low-power TV's and translators to channel share with full power and Class A stations. But the group told the FCC not to adopt its proposal to impose additional restrictions on channel-sharing outside the auction, restrictions it is not imposing on sharing within the auction, one of which was not to allow them to change their communities of license, something the FCC is allowing auction participants to do.