Who Will Buy Vacated Airwaves?
Posted on: Thursday, 27 November 2008, 08:35 CST A major test is approaching quickly for a renewed effort by U.S. regulators to auction part of the airwaves to a commercial entity that must share the spectrum with firefighters, police, and other emergency workers. The Federal Communications Commission’s new proposal to attract bidders to empty airwaves when television broadcasters switch to digital signals will be forefront at an FCC meeting in mid-December. Growing doubts remain about whether decreasing the minimum bid requirement and easing coverage requirements can overcome a failed auction effort early in 2008. The debate is whether a commercial partner can profitably share the airwaves with the public safety groups. Another major hurdle is a weak economy and scarcity of financing. “One of the big problems is that we are trying to privatize something that might not have a good return on investment,” said Sascha Meinrath, a research director at the think tank, New America Foundation
