Members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the US House of Representatives are the latest to weigh in the FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on the need to protect broadcast television while pursuing incentive auctions in their spectrum area.
The agreed that the goal of the auctions is important and necessary, but point out that over-the-air broadcast television is also important and necessary relied on by many.
They are calling for an open process in which broadcasters are informed early and often about the FCC’s plans so they have ample opportunity to “evaluate and understand” how they might be affected.
“As the Commission conducts its repacking process and develops its band plan for the remaining television stations, we ask the Commission to adhere to a policy of transparency, disclosing plans at the earliest opportunity in order to help those stations evaluate and understand how the proposed changes will affect them. Providing such transparency and notice to broadcasters prior to the auction will ensure the process is done right without creating any delay in moving forward with the needed spectrum auctions.”
Signing the letter were:
Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)
Michael R. Doyle (D-PA)
Robert A. Brady (D-PA)
Charles W. Dent (R-PA)
Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
Jason Altmire (D-PA)
Mark Critz (D-PA)
Patrick Meehan (R-PA)
Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA)
Tom Marino (R-PA)
Mike Kelly (R-PA)
Todd Russell Platts (R-PA)
Lou Barletta (R-PA)
Bill Shuster (R-PA)
Tim Holden (D-PA)
