Next Steps on the Road to the Incentive Auction

Earlier in August, the Federal Communications Commission adopted the Incentive Auction Bidding Procedures Public Notice, which sets March 29, 2016 as the start date of the first-ever incentive auction. This fall, staff will release detailed information on the application process and announce the reverse auction opening bid prices. We will then start taking applications. Today we lay out the roadmap for these critical next steps and outline the actions that will occur after the applications are submitted.

Application Procedures Public Notice: In early fall, we plan to release the Application Procedures Public Notice.
Opening Bid Prices -- Reverse Auction: We will publicly announce the reverse auction opening bid prices for all broadcasters no later than 60 days before the deadline for reverse auction applications established in the Application Procedures Public Notice.
Opening Bid Prices -- Forward Auction: For the forward auction, the Bidding Procedures Public Notice established the upfront payment and opening bid prices per bidding unit, described how bidding units are calculated for each Partial Economic Are (PEA), and explained when upfront payments would be due
Commencing the Auction: After we release the information described above, we will open the windows for applications to participate in the reverse and forward auction; the application windows will close before the end of the year.