Spectrum Management
Spectrum Management
In its recently released National Broadband Plan, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that current spectrum allocations are not sufficient to meet the expected increase in demand for high speed wireless Internet service. To meet that demand, the plan recommends the reallocation of up to 500 MHz of spectrum, including up to 120 MHz currently used by television broadcasters. NAB is working to ensure that any change to spectrum policy going forward does not limit consumer access to the full potential of digital broadcasting.
Issue
The FCC presented a National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 16, 2010. The 359-page document includes language calling for the reallocation of up to 120 MHz of broadcast TV spectrum. Free, local television is a lifeline service providing timely news, emergency and community information to all viewers.NAB is working to promote spectrum policies that do not restrict consumer access to the full potential
of digital television (DTV), including high definition (HD) and multicast programming and mobile DTV.
History
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress directed the FCC to develop
a National Broadband Plan to ensure that all people of the U.S. have access to broadband. The FCC presented a comprehensive plan to Congress on March 16, 2010.
Some parties, including FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, have expressed concerns about a “looming” spectrum crisis – specifically claiming that the current amount of spectrum designated for wireless companies to provide service is insufficient to meet the rapidly increasing demand for wireless broadband. In September 2009, the FCC asked for comment on whether current spectrum allocations, including but not limited to the bands below 3.7 GHz, are adequate to support near- and longer-term demands of wireless broadband.
In early December 2009, the FCC asked more directly whether the government should consider designating some or all of the spectrum currently being used to deliver broadcast television service to meet claimed wireless broadband needs.
NAB and the Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc. (MSTV) responded aggressively to the FCC’s inquiry, arguing that over-the-air television, including advanced services like high definition and mobile broadcasting, are a necessary complement to a quality wireless broadband system. NAB and MSTV have also encouraged the FCC to consider all frequencies that may be suitable for wireless broadband (including frequencies above 3.7 GHz).
In June of 2010, The White House issued a Presidential Memorandum on “unleashing the wireless broadband revolution.” In response to this, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith wrote Lawrence Summers, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy on local broadcaster’s core principles moving forward, including:
- Americans must maintain access to digital offerings currently provided by television broadcasters
- Americans must not lose access to broadcast television based on signal strength degradations or limitations
- Free TV viewers must continue to be the beneficiaries of video innovation
- Americans must not lose quality local TV because of new spectrum taxes
NAB Position
NAB was pleased by initial indications from FCC members that any spectrum reallocation would be voluntary, and was therefore prepared to move forward in a constructive fashion on that basis when the National Broadband Plan was released. However, there are concerns that many aspects of the released plan may in fact not be as voluntary as originally promised. Further, NAB opposes any attempts to
impose spectrum fees on broadcasters, as suggested under the plan.
NAB believes that no reallocation plan should move forward without a complete accounting of how the airwaves are allocated, licensed and used, and therefore strongly supports congressional efforts to conduct an inventory of all available spectrum.
In considering the efficiency and productivity of the current use of spectrum, the FCC and Congress should consider the important public services broadcasters offer to all Americans through that spectrum, free of charge. Broadcast television provides local and national news and information, universal service, educational programming, and timely and vital emergency information. The future availability of these free services could be threatened if over-the-air broadcast distribution were eliminated or confined to inadequate levels.
In addition to the services already provided by broadcasters, advances in quality and quantity of programming and other services will lead to increased efficiency of spectrum use. Broadcasters are poised to do even more with their existing 6 MHz channels, offering new services like mobile DTV to complement current programming streams. These services will be provided over stations’ existing spectrum assignments, further increasing the efficiency of the nation’s over-the-air television service.
Action Needed
NAB will continue working to ensure that policymakers recognize that broadcasting and broadband are both important aspects of America’s communications system and are not mutually exclusive. NAB is committed
to working with the FCC and Congress to build a communications system that benefits all Americans.
