FCC Chairman Wheeler Says He'll Fight Attempts to Delay Auction

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has assured some prominent House and Senate Democrats that the incentive auction is still on track for early 2016 -- less than a year away -- and that he will oppose attempts to delay it, which he says could hurt broadcasters as well as wireless companies eager for spectrum.

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) had written to Chairman Wheeler to encourage him to make sure that the FCC had reserved enough spectrum for non-dominant low-band spectrum holders -- the dominant ones are principally AT&T and Verizon, they pointed out. In his reply, Chairman Wheeler said that he would "strenuously oppose" any attempt by carriers with "sufficient" low-band spectrum to delay the auction "in order to preserve their competitive advantage in holding almost all the spectrum for as long as possible."