Federal Communications Commission	"FCC  XX-XXX"


STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR

Re:	LPTV, TV Translator, and FM Broadcast Station Reimbursement, MB Docket No. 18-214; Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, GN Docket No. 12-268

In the Spectrum Act of 2012, Congress recognized the need to make more spectrum available for mobile broadband through the broadcast incentive auction.  Congress also recognized that broadcasters should be reimbursed for costs they incur in the repacking process.

But the Spectrum Act imposed limits on the FCC’s authority to reimburse the more than 2,000 Low Power TV (LPTV) stations and TV translators that could be impacted by the repacking process, as well as hundreds of FM stations.  Thankfully, Congress addressed this issue in the Reimbursement Expansion Act, which passed this year.  In it, Congress allocated additional funding and gave the FCC the authority to reimburse LPTVs, FM stations, and translators.  This is an important step that will likely help keep many of these stations on the air and minimize disruptions in service associated with the repack.  Today’s Notice begins the process of implementing those decisions.

	This additional funding will help keep diverse voices on the air and help the many rural and remote communities that rely on these stations for emergency alerts and information.
	
I want to thank the Media Bureau for its work on the Notice.  It has my support.

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