Two hearings were held on February 16 that were of interest to broadcasters. The first hearing on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology entitled "Network Neutrality and Internet Regulation: Warranted or More Economic Harm than Good?" All five FCC Commissioners testified. The hearing focused almost entirely on the FCC's net neutrality rules. However, Congressman John Dingell (MI) asked a series of yes or no questions to Chairman Genachowski, including if he will commit to Universal Service Fund Reform (he will), and if the spectrum survey will be completed this year (all panelists answered yes). He pressed Genachowski on spectrum auction, asking repeatedly if the government will forcefully take spectrum if too few licensees participate in voluntary auctions, calling it a bank hold-up. Genachowski said that the FCC is asking Congress for the authority to do these auctions, and stated that they have created a win-win which they believe will encourage participation.

Across the Capitol, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (WV) conducted a hearing on his legislation, S. 28, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act. This hearing, attended by Vice Chair Hutchison (TX) and Sens. Klobuchar (MN), Blunt (MO), Udall (NM), Boozman (AR), Warner (VA), Toomey (PA), Ayotte (NH) and Rubio (FL), focused almost exclusively on reallocating the D-block to public-safety officials. In addition to officials from the public-safety community, Rep. Peter King (NY-03), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, spoke about the urgent need for an interoperable network and his legislation that was recently introduced, H.R. 607, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011. While Chairman Rockefeller indicated interoperable public safety communications will be the Committee's top priority, NAB representatives will still have the opportunity to ask questions about the voluntary incentive auctions included in the legislation.