RONWYDEN
OREGON
COMMITTEES:
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3703
COMMITIEE ON RNANCE
COM1WlTEE ON BUDGET
COMMITIEE ON ENERGY & N/lfURAL RESOURCES
SELECT COMMITIEE ON INTEUJGENCE
JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXA110N
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON
RNANCE
2?1 OIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
(202) 224-5244 March 16,2015
The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler,
I am writing today with an important issue affecting many parts of my state along with other
western states. The Commission recently closed the bidding of the Advanced Wireless Spectrum
(AWS-3) auction, which generated more than $40 billion. The proceeds will ensure that the
public safety priorities Congress identified in the Spectrum Act are fully funded. It is my
understanding that the next major auction on the Commission's agenda is the broadcast TV
incentive auction.
As you may know, television viewers in Oregon and many other parts of the West rely heavily
on television translator stations for reliable over-the-air service. While these stations are not
entitled to the same legal protection as full power and Class A stations as the Commission
repacks the television band, they provide a critical service for many of our constituents who live
in rural communities. For this reason, we ask that Commission consider the needs ofthese
stations and their viewers for the duration the repacking process.
The urgency of this situation is that in the proposed post-auction band plan, Oregonians could to
lose critical news and information services as the result of displaced translators. I ask the FCC to
consider rural Oregonians when pursuing any band plan that overly benefits wireless consumers
in select markets at the expense of harming reliable over-the-air television.
The Commission can still achieve Congress's goal of repurposing spectrum for wireless use
while protecting broadcast TV viewers. To this end, I urge you to pursue a nationwide band plan
that significantly limits spectrum variation among markets and protects TV translators that serve
rural America.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
~~~
Ron Wyden
U.S. Senator
911 NE 11TH AVENUE
SUITE 630
PORTI.AND, OR 97232
(503) 326-7525
405 EAST 8TH AVE
SUITE 2020
EUGENE, OR 97401
(541) 431-0229
SAC ANNEX BUILDING
105 FIR ST
SCITE 201
LA GRANDE, OR 97850
(541) 962-7691
U.S. COURTHOUSE
310 WEST 6TH ST
ROOM 118
MEDFORD, OR 97501
(541) 858-5122
THE JAMISON BUILDING
131 NW HAWTHORNE AVE
SUITE 107
BEND. OR 9n01
(541) 330-9142
707 13TI1 !:'-T.SE
SUITE 285
SALEM, OR 97301
(503) 589-4555
HTTP://WYDEN.SENATE.GOV
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