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March 28,2013
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
445 lih Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Mr. Chairman:
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Having recently passed the one-year anniversary of the Middle Class Tax Relief
and Job Creation Act of2012 (the Act), we are writing to you with respect to the Federal
Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) implementation of the incentive
auction provisions enacted last year. Specifically, as Senators and Members of Congress
from a state with international borders, we are interested in ensuring that the Commission
works with Canada and Mexico to preserve opportunities for broadcasting, as well as
maximizing the amount of nationwide spectrum made available to meet our nation's
demand for licensed mobile wireless broadband.
Section 6403(b)(I)(B) of the Act states that "subject to international coordination
along the border with Mexico and Canada," the Commission can "make such
reassignments of television channels as the Commission considers appropriate" to make
available spectrum to carry out the forward auction. This is an extremely important
provision of the Act. Border coordination impacts all television stations within 250 miles
of the border with Canada. In order to maximize the amount of spectrum available for
broadband, produce auction revenues that provide $7 billion for the buildout of a
nationwide public safety broadband network, and preserve opportunities for over-the-air
broadcasting, the Commission will need to work expeditiously with our neighbors to the
north and south to coordinate operations.
We know that successful coordination with our neighbors is poslftble. During the
DTY transition, the FCC undertook a comprehensive process to pre-approve frequency
changes along the northern and southern borders to ease the impact of the transition on
viewers and television broadcasters. With that in mind, we would like an update on the .
status of international coordination efforts. We request that you respond to the
following questions by Tuesday, April 9, 2013:
1. What is the current status of coordination efforts with the Canadian or Mexican
governments?
2. What is the Commission's timeline for international coordination?
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The Honorable Julius Genachowski
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3. What are the significant milestones that must be reached to complete the
coordination?
4. Who will represent the FCC during these discussions? What other U.S.
government officials will be participating?
5. When does the FCC expect the coordination efforts to be finalized with Canada
and Mexico? Is there a target date for completion?
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. Please submit your responses to
the delegation in writing to Mark Ratner in Congressman Upton's office. Should you
have any questions, please contact Mark at telephone number 202-225-3761.
Sincerely,
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Debbie Stabenow
U.S. Senator
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Bill HUizenga
Member of Congress
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Fred Upton
Member of Congress
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