Broader Spectrum Licenses Could Increase Auction Revenues

On January 17, 2017, Scott Wallston, President of the Technology Policy Institute, published a blog entitled “Don’t Be Disappointed by the FCC’s Incentive Auction.” Mr. Wallston discusses why the success of the 2015 AWS-3 auction created unrealistic expectations for the broadcast incentive auction. He states that licenses restrict how bidders can use spectrum, therefore wireless-only spectrum will produce higher market values than TV broadcasting-only spectrum. Mr. Wallston commends the FCC for going forward with the incentive auction, but says if licenses allowed for a broader use of spectrum, we may see higher auction revenues.