The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Media Bureau (Bureau) and Incentive Auction Task Force (Task Force) is developing a plan for a phased Incentive Auction transition schedule. The Commission recently released a Public Notice seeking comment on the proposed plan. Comments are due October 31, 2016, and reply comments are due November 15, 2016.
The Bureau is developing a plan to create a phased transition schedule for broadcasters that are reassigned to a new channel in the repacking. Under this phased approach, stations will be assigned to one of 10 “transition phases” with sequential testing periods and deadlines, or “phase completion dates.” The phase
completion date will be the date listed in each station’s construction permit as its construction deadline
and will be the last day that a station may operate on its pre-auction channel. The Bureau and Task Force seek comment on the Commission’s methodology for establishing a transition schedule.
