Politico Bliley slams plans to expedite airwaves auction
'Future interference' a concern for solon, NAB
Congressional budgeteers and the Clinton administration want to speed up the sale, currently planned to take place in 2001, so revenues can be used to cover a $1.3 billion spending shortfall. The Clinton administration wants to use the money to pay for an education program that includes improving school building and hiring more teachers.
The channels are sparsely populated and incumbents will not be affected by the sale.
Nonetheless, broadcasters oppose the auction because they are worried about the current plan to allot every station in the country a second channel to launch a digital service. It will take at least six years for every channel to test its assigned frequencies, and broadcasters would like to make sure the spectrum between 60 and 69 will not be needed in cases where TV signals interfere with each other.
In his letter to Gingrich, Bliley also raised concerns about future interference problems. "By accelerating the auction date ... the administration's proposal could lead to co-channel interference between new digital channels and existing analog channels," Bliley wrote.
The National Assn. of Broadcasters issued a press release Wednesday, praising Bliley for his letter. In it, the NAB said, "We applaud chairman Bliley for recognizing these facts and for his steadfast support of free over-the-air television."
