FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
June 12,2012
JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch
Rank.ing Member
Commillee on Finance
nited States Senate
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington. D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Ilateh:
Thank you for your leller regarding the Commission's responsibilities under the Middle
Class Tax Reliefand Job Creation Act 01'2012 (JOBS Act). 1 appreciate hearing your views on
this maller. I have asked the co-leader of the Commission's Incentive Auction Task Force to
respond to your conccrns and I am pleased to provide the enclosed leller.
If you have any additional questions or need any further assistance. please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Enclosure
.Julius Genachowski
445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000
Federal Communications COlllmission
Washington, D.C. 20554
June 12,2012
The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch
Ranking Member
Committee on Finance
United tates Senate
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Hatch:
Thank you for your lellcr regarding the Commission's responsibilities undcr the Middle
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of2012 (JOBS Act). I recognizc the significant
contribution of spectrum auction proceeds to the government's revenue. Thc Commission is
dcdicated to implementing this important legislation in a timely and effective manner.
The JOBS Act requires the Commission to auction up to 65 megahertz of spectrum by
February 2015, including three bands totaling 35 megahertz of advanced wircless services
(A WS) spectrum, 15 megahertz of spectrum to be identified by NTlA from the 1675-1710 MHz
band, and an additional 15 megahertz of contiguous spcctrum to be idcntified by the
Commission. The Commission, working with NTIA where appropriate, has been exploring the
optimal use of these bands. For example, after NTIA determined in 20 I0 thatthc 1695-1710
MHz band (with exclusion zones) could be made available for wireless broadband, the
Commission sought comment in 20 I I on the potential for using this spectrum for commercial
broadband services. The Commission is working with NTIA to identify additional Fcderal
spectrum for reallocation or for sharing with commercial uses, including the 1755-1780 MHz
band strongly preferred by the wirelcss industry for paired use with 25 megahertz of the AWS
spectrum that must be auctioned by February 2015 under the JOBS Act. These spectrum bands
comprise some of the most promising resources to address the spectrum crunch and to enable the
continued acceleration of the mobile broadband revolution that is driving economic growth,
investmcnt, and valuable new services for con umers and businesses.
The JOBS Act also granted the Commission the authority to conduct incentivc auctions
of broadcast television spectrum. Incentive auctions offer an unprecedented opportunity to
unleash vitally needed additional spectrum for mobile broadband and create tremendous value
for Amcrican consumers, while raising billions of dollars for deficit reduction. Chairman
Genachowski is grateful that Congress authorized this important new mechanism, and the
Commission is committed to moving forward expeditiously implementing the incentive auction
legislation. To that end, the Commission recently adopted rules allowing channel sharing by
broadcasters in anticipation of a future incentive auction, and the Commission's Incentive
Page 2-The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch
Auction Task Force is engaged in coordinating thc agencywide effort to implement the
legislation.
Since the Commission is in the early stages of implementing the incentive auction
legislation, J Calmot say when we will be able to provide you with the reporlthat you request
outlining anticipated milestones. However, I will be glad to keep you informed of Commission
progress on these auction proceedings. Plea e let me know if I Call be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Incentive Auction Task Force