FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION March 30, 2012 ,JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN The Honorable Dave Loebsack U.S. House of Representatives 1221 Longworth Ilouse Oflice Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Loebsack: Thank you for your letter sharing your constituents' concern that voluntary incentive auctions in the broadcast television spectrum might cau e them to lose access to free local television channcls. I appreciate that Congress recently granted the Commission authority to use this market-based solution to address the looming shortage of spectrum available for wireless broadband. Incentive auctions will enable the market to determine, through a voluntary process, the amount of spectrum that can be repurposed for flexible uses like wireless broadband. Over-the air television broadcasters may voluntarily contribute their spectrum or choose not to participate in the incentive auction. TV broadcaster participation in incentive auctions will be voluntary, and stations will not be forced off the air. To optimize the value ofthe spectrum voluntarily contributed by broadcasters. the Commission will need to realign remaining TV stations in the band, so that the pieces fit in the most efficient way and the repurposed spectrum can be used efficiently to offer wireless broadband ervices. Each ofthe rcmaining stations will have just as much spectrum per station in the same band as it has today and will be compensated from incentive auction proceeds for its move to a ncw channelassignm~nt. I appreciate your interest in this important matter. Please let me know if I can be ofany further assistance. JuIius Genachowski 445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON. D.C 20554 • 202-418'1000