Last Friday, the Communications and Internet Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held the fifth in a series of spectrum hearings entitled "Legislative Hearing to Address Spectrum and Public Safety Issues."

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith was among the five witnesses on the panel, along with Michael Calabrese representing the Wireless Innovation Alliance, Chris Guttman-McCabe with CTIA, economist Peter Crampton and Christopher Moore, San Jose, Calif., police chief.

This was a legislative hearing designed to elicit comments on the discussion draft recently released by Subcommittee Chairman Walden (OR-02) and Chairman Upton (MI-06). While the hearing was primarily dominated by discussion of the controversial D-block of spectrum and public safety concerns, Smith focused his comments on the improvements we want to see made to the signal contour protection language of the draft bill. Additionally, he discussed the importance of broadcasters in the public safety debate – as fire and police are the first responders, broadcasters are the "first informers" and Congress needs to be mindful not to do damage to either.

A number of members on both sides of the aisle mentioned the importance of the incentive auctions to be voluntary and the need to provide broadcasters the necessary protections in final legislation.

NAB continues to work closely with the committee staff to make improvements to the discussion draft to protect viewers and broadcasters in any incentive auction.

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