House to Query FCC Commissioners on Incentive Auctions

Hearing is slated for Dec. 13 in Communications Subcommittee

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/15/2012 5:47:34 PM

The FCC commissioners are scheduled to appear at a Dec. 12 hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee's Communications subcommittee on incentive spectrum auctions.

A House Energy and Commerce Committee spokesperson confirmed the hearing Thursday.

Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) helped write the legislation that created the auctions, and has already held hearings on the topic, including one on government spectrum in September. (The spectrum legislation also directed the federal government to find its own spectrum that could be reclaimed for -- likely -- commercial wireless use.)

The FCC in September voted unanimously on a proposed framework for the auctions, which will compensate broadcasters for giving up spectrum that is then auctioned to the highest bidder, presumably wireless carriers eager for the beachfront spectrum.