Rep Walden to Chairman Wheeler: Don’t favor unlicensed users over LPTV

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The Federal Communications Commission should not sacrifice low power TV and translators in order to provide more unlicensed spectrum in the broadcast incentive auction. That was the message delivered in a letter Aug 4 to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler from House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and House Commerce Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX). The FCC is set to vote Aug 6 on critical spectrum auction procedures that will determine how TV stations are repacked in a smaller portion of the spectrum band. However, it is unclear how the repacking will affect low power television (LPTV) and translators, which serve significant portions of the western US, putting the fate of these broadcast outlets up in the air.

“While the commission was granted significant flexibility to repack broadcast stations to optimize the recovered spectrum in the 600 MHz band, the commission itself recognized that it had the responsibility to ‘help preserve the important services’ provided by LPTV and translators. I am concerned that the current focus on white spaces and unlicensed services outside of the duplex gap and guard bands may unnecessarily harm the communities served by LPTV and translators,” the lawmakers wrote. When asked about his plans for LPTV and translators at the House Communications Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Wheeler said there were multiple things the commission could do, but that the statute did not explicitly address LPTV and translators.


Rep Walden to Chairman Wheeler: Don’t favor unlicensed users over LPTV