FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Ron Wyden United States Senate 223 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Wyden: September 1, 2015 Thank you for your letter regarding repacking full-power TV broadcasters in the 600 MHz Band following the Incentive Auction. I share your view that that unlicensed spectrum is an important catalyst for innovation, and the Commission has taken a wide range of actions to make more spectrum available for unlicensed use. Specifically in the context of the incentive auction, the Commission has authorized unlicensed use of Channel 3 7, the guard bands, and duplex gap that will be part of the new 600 MHz band plan after the auction. Additionally, the Commission proposed to set aside one vacant channel in the TV band for unlicensed use. As you note, our auction system could assign some TV broadcasters to the duplex gap if there is not sufficient channel capacity in the TV band in a market to accommodate all of the broadcasters that wish to remain on the air after the auction. At the same time, we also adopted a cap on the ability ofthe system to assign stations to the wireless band to limit impairments to the spectrum being made available for wireless broadband use -unlicensed as well as licensed. The Commission staff analysis indicated that broadcast stations may need to be placed in the duplex gap in only a handful of markets. However, the Commission has proposed to protect a second vacant television channel for unlicensed use and wireless microphones in markets where broadcasters are placed in the duplex gap. The flexibility to assign some TV stations to the wireless band is important because we do not know in advance how many broadcasters in each market will elect to participate in the auction. If we did not have the flexibility to assign some stations to the wireless band, including the duplex gap, our ability to repurpose 600 MHz spectrum for wireless broadband would be limited because we would have to make the TV band big enough in every market to accommodate the market with the greatest number of stations remaining on the air, even if a smaller TV band would be sufficient for the vast majority of the country. As you note, stakeholders voiced their concerns associated with assigning TV stations to the duplex gap. The Commission carefully considered their views. and I believe the rules we adopted strike the appropriate balance between providing the necessary flexibility for a successful auction and preserving spectrum for unlicensed use. Page 2-The Honorable Ron Wyden I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy United States Senate 433 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Leahy: September 1, 2015 Thank you for your letter regarding repacking full-power TV broadcasters in the 600 MHz Band following the Incentive Auction. I share your view that that unlicensed spectrum is an important catalyst for innovation, and the Commission has taken a wide range of actions to make more spectrum available for unlicensed use. Specifically in the context of the incentive auction, the Commission has authorized unlicensed use of Channel 3 7, the guard bands, and duplex gap that will be part of the new 600 MHz band plan after the auction. Additionally, the Commission proposed to set aside one vacant channel in the TV band for unlicensed use. As you note, our auction system could assign some TV broadcasters to the duplex gap if there is not sufficient channel capacity in the TV band in a market to accommodate all of the broadcasters that wish to remain on the air after the auction. At the same time, we also adopted a cap on the ability of the system to assign stations to the wireless band to limit impairments to the spectrum being made available for wireless broadband use - unlicensed as well as licensed. The Commission staff analysis indicated that broadcast stations may need to be placed in the duplex gap in only a handful of markets. However, the Commission has proposed to protect a second vacant television channel for unlicensed use and wireless microphones in markets where broadcasters are placed in the duplex gap. The t1exibility to assign some TV stations to the wireless band is important because we do not know in advance how many broadcasters in each market will elect to participate in the auction. If we did not have the flexibility to assign some stations to the wireless band, including the duplex gap, our ability to repurpose 600 MHz spectrum for wireless broadband would be limited because we would have to make the TV band big enough in every market to accommodate the market with the greatest number of stations remaining on the air, even if a smaller TV band would be sufficient for the vast majority of the country. As you note, stakeholders voiced their concerns associated with assigning TV stations to the duplex gap. The Commission carefully considered their views, and I believe the rules we adopted strike the appropriate balance between providing the necessary flexibility for a successful auction and preserving spectrum for unlicensed use . Page 2-The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Si~J/4/- Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Richard Blumenthal United States Senate 702 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Blumenthal: September 1, 2015 Thank you for your letter regarding repacking full-power TV broadcasters in the 600 MHz Band following the Incentive Auction. I share your view that that unlicensed spectrum is an important catalyst for innovation, and the Commission has taken a wide range of actions to make more spectrum available for unlicensed use. Specifically in the context of the incentive auction, the Commission has authorized unlicensed use of Channel 3 7, the guard bands, and duplex gap that will be part of the new 600 MHz band plan after the auction. Additionally, the Commission proposed to set aside one vacant channel in the TV band for unlicensed use. As you note, our auction system could assign some TV broadcasters to the duplex gap if there is not sufficient channel capacity in the TV band in a market to accommodate all of the broadcasters that wish to remain on the air after the auction. At the same time, we also adopted a cap on the ability of the system to assign stations to the wireless band to limit impairments to the spectrum being made available for wireless broadband use- unlicensed as well as licensed. The Commission staff analysis indicated that broadcast stations may need to be placed in the duplex gap in only a handful of markets. However, the Commission has proposed to protect a second vacant television channel for unlicensed use and wireless microphones in markets where broadcasters are placed in the duplex gap. The flexibility to assign some TV stations to the wireless band is important because we do not know in advance how many broadcasters in each market will elect to participate in the auction. If we did not have the flexibility to assign some stations to the wireless band, including the duplex gap, our ability to repurpose 600 MHz spectrum for wireless broadband would be limited because we would have to make the TV band big enough in every market to accommodate the market with the greatest number of stations remaining on the air, even if a smaller TV band would be sufficient for the vast majority of the country. As you note, stakeholders ·oiced their concerns associated with assigning TV stations to the duplex gap. The Commission carefully considered their views, and I believe the rules we adopted strike the appropriate balance between providing the necessary flexibility for a successful auction and preserving spectrum for unlicensed use. Page 2-The Honorable Richard Blumenthal I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Zit~/- Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Cory Booker United States Senate 141 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Booker: September 1, 2015 Thank you for your Jetter regarding repacking full-power TV broadcasters in the 600 MHz Band following the Incentive Auction. I share your view that that unlicensed spectrum is an important catalyst for innovation, and the Commission has taken a wide range of actions to make more spectrum available for unlicensed use. Specifically in the context of the incentive auction, the Commission has authorized unlicensed use of Channel 3 7, the guard bands, and duplex gap that will be part of the new 600 MHz band plan after the auction. Additionally. the Commission proposed to set aside one vacant channel in the TV band for unlicensed use. As you note, our auction system could assign some TV broadcasters to the duplex gap if there is not sufficient channel capacity in the TV band in a market to accommodate all of the broadcasters that wish to remain on the air after the auction. At the same time, we also adopted a cap on the ability of the system to assign stations to the wireless band to limit impairments to the spectrum being made available for wireless broadband use- unlicensed as well as licensed. The Commission staff analysis indicated that broadcast stations may need to be placed in the duplex gap in only a handful of markets. However, the Commission has proposed to protect a second vacant television channel for unlicensed use and wireless microphones in markets where broadcasters are placed in the duplex gap. The flexibility to assign some TV stations to the wireless band is important because we do not know in advance how many broadcasters in each market will elect to participate in the auction. If we did not have the flexibility to assign some stations to the wireless band, including the duplex gap, our ability to repurpose 600 MHz spectrum for wireless broadband would be limited because we would have to make the TV band big enough in every market to accommodate the market with the greatest number of stations remaining on the air, even if a smaller TV band would be sufficient for the vast majority of the country. As you note, stakeholders voiced their concerns associated with assigning TV stations to the duplex gap. The Commission carefully considered their views, and I believe the rules we adopted strike the appropriate balance between providing the necessary flexibility for a successful auction and preserving spectrum for unlicensed use. Page 2-The Honorable Cory Booker I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Charles E. Schumer United States Senate 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Schumer: September 1, 2015 Thank you for your letter regarding repacking full-power TV broadcasters in the 600 MHz Band following the Incentive Auction. I share your view that that unlicensed spectrum is an important catalyst for innovation, and the Commission has taken a wide range of actions to make more spectrum available for unlicensed use. Specifically in the context ofthe incentive auction, the Commission has authorized unlicensed use of Channel 3 7, the guard bands, and duplex gap that will be part of the new 600 MHz band plan after the auction. Additionally, the Commission proposed to set aside one vacant channel in the TV band for unlicensed use. As you note, our auction system could assign some TV broadcasters to the duplex gap if there is not sufficient channel capacity in the TV band in a market to accommodate all of the broadcasters that wish to remain on the air after the auction. At the same time, we also adopted a cap on the ability of the system to assign stations to the wireless band to limit impairments to the spectrum being made available for wireless broadband use- unlicensed as well as licensed. The Commission staff analysis indicated that broadcast stations may need to be placed in the duplex gap in only a handful of markets. However, the Commission has proposed to protect a second vacant television channel for unlicensed use and wireless microphones in markets where broadcasters are placed in the duplex gap. The flexibility to assign some TV stations to the wireless band is important because we do not know in advance how many broadcasters in each market will elect to participate in the auction. If we did not have the flexibility to assign some stations to the wireless band, including the duplex gap. our ability to repurpose 600 MHz spectrum for wireless broadband would be limited because we would have to make the TV band big enough in every market to accommodate the market with the greatest number of stations remaining on the air, even if a smaller TV band would be sufficient for the vast majority of the country. As you note, stakeholders voiced their concerns associated with assigning TV stations to the duplex gap. The Commission carefully considered their views. and I believe the rules we adopted strike the appropriate balance between providing the necessary fl exibility for a successful auction and preserving spectrum for unlicensed use . Page 2-The Honorable Charles E. Schumer I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Tom Wheeler