FCC Chairman Pai attended NAB 2017, and gave an upbeat speech promising comprehensive review of the broadcasting, cable and satellite rules with a goal of streamlining regulation and eliminating outmoded rules. Authorizing ATSC 3.0 is a priority for Pai and the FCC, and he stated a commitment to issue a final authorization of the ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV standards by the end of 2017. The repack is also a priority for the FCC, and regional coordinators have been assigned to help r

Today Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai announced his plan to roll back net neutrality rules put in place by the Obama administration in 2015. The FCC currently regulates Internet Service Providers as “common carriers” under Title II regulations developed in the 1930’s that treat the internet as a public utility. Pai proposes a FCC vote on May 18th to kick-off a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for public debate between ISPs, Silicon Valley tech giants, consumer g

175 Broadcasters to Split $10B On April 13, 2017, the FCC released the “Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice,” starting the clock on the 90-day period on repack construction and modification applications and reimbursement estimates, making them due on July 12, 2017. A total of 987 Channels will be moved in this repack, and 175 broadcasters who sold spectrum in the auction to the wireless operators and other entities will split over $10B. The following Excel

T-Mobile T-Mobile was the big winner in the auction with 1,525 licenses for $8B. T-Mobile purchased 45% of the total spectrum auctioned, with bids concentrated in the B, C, D and E-blocks. T-Mobile purchased an average of 31MHz/pop nationwide and paid an average of $0.83/MHz/POP. John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, was quick to point out that consumers will be the real winners in the U.S. when they begin to utilize the 600 MHz band of spectrum later this year. Dish Dish was the re