As the FCC and wireless companies have been eyeing spectrum in the television band for repurposing, broadcasters have been agreeable as long as they are treated fairly – and one plank they are requesting is that any auction happen one time and one time only. The Coalition For Free TV and Broadband is taking it a step further, saying if there is even one auction, wireless companies should also lose all tax loopholes they currently enjoy.
The CFTVB finds it ironic that wireless companies would take spectrum away from small broadcast companies and put it in under the control of a handful of large wireless “monopolies,” essentially taking the airwaves away from the American people, and using the money of the American people it acquired via the tax loopholes to make the purchase.
Coalition Public Relations Director Lee Miller said, “Those same monopolies, represented by the CTIA, should lose all their tax loopholes and benefits that have allowed them to avoid billions in taxes each year-including one of their biggest members paying $0 tax in 2010.”
Miller continued, “The members of CTIA are asking Congress to confiscate the free airwaves and allow them to buy it with taxpayer money they got through loopholes they spent millions lobbying the same Congress to get. Then they will turn around and charge the American public for the privilege of using the spectrum that they paid for through their tax dollars.”
Miller contends that broadcasters have better ideas, more potential to create jobs and revenue that will benefit the federal government, and ways in which they can help alleviate the spectrum crunch.
“We would be happy to debate the CTIA and the FCC Chairman on this matter any time they wish,” Miller offered.
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