Rep Clarke Calls For Incentive Auction Hearing

Rep Hansen Clarke (D-MI) says that insuring that broadcasters retain their coverage areas after the Federal Communications Commission reclaims spectrum and repacks stations in incentive auctions is an important emergency communications issue that deserves its own Hill hearing.

Rep. Hansen said that the auctions could impact the "growing number" of people who are broadcast-only viewers. "I believe it is essential that broadcasters retain their service areas during the auction process so they may continue to provide emergency information and news to the local community." He said it would be in the best interests of national security to insure that service loss was minimized, particularly in rural and "underserved" areas, a term usually reserved for broadband buildouts.