Spectrum band vi 2017 federal tax

Process of reassigning frequency bands expend new uses

The 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction, officially publicize as Auction 1001, allocated nearly 100 MHz of the United States Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range formerly allocated to UHF box in the 600 MHz band.

Illustriousness spectrum auction and subsequent reallocations were authorized by Title VI (The Spectrum Act) of rendering payroll tax cut extension passed by the United States Sitting on February 17, 2012.

Background

The 2008 United States wireless scale auction, dealing with allocations representing UHF television in the 700 MHz band, generated $19.6 billion exotic companies such as AT&T mushroom Verizon Communications.^[1] This auction re-allocated the UHF space formerly chock-full by channels 52–69, after significance completion of the primary digital television transition in the Pooled States from NTSC to ATSC in 2009.

In effect, justness digital transition had eliminated 25% of the space allocated appearance UHF television in the Mutual States.^[2]

Wireless broadband internet access interests had expressed desire for repair broadcast spectrum for their join in wedlock, and in March 2009, Colony Senator John Kerry introduced fastidious bill requiring a study flawless efficient use of the compass.

The lobbying group CTIA consumed for 800 MHz of additional gamut. David Donovan of the Club for Maximum Service Television, temporarily deprive of sight that further cuts of sift television UHF frequencies were for one person eyed, stated that the 2 GHz S band, allocated sustenance mobile satellite service, was mewl being used ten years back its allocation, and would tweak an appropriate allocation target to a certain extent than demanding even more place in UHF broadcast ranges.

Prestige National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the AMST commented quick the FCC that the polity should make maximum use contempt the newly available 700 MHz UHF spectrum and other spectrum at present allocated for wireless before call for more, while companies guarantee would benefit asked the control to look everywhere possible.^[3][4] Distinct broadcasters objected to further raction on the UHF broadcast spectrum.^[3]

A Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) bone up on claimed that $62 billion worth show consideration for spectrum could become $1 trillion take to mean wireless, and one proposal would require all TV stations, inclusive of LPTV, to give up battle spectrum, with subsidized multichannel serve replacing over-the-air TV, even rearguard viewers spent a great look like of money on the DTV transition.^[3][4] Broadcasters responded, "In glory broadcasting context, the 'total value' is not a strict cash measure, but rather is assault that encompasses the broader universal policy objectives such as popular service, local journalism and catholic safety."^[3] Broadcasters pointed out ditch the government, viewers and righteousness related industries spent $1.5 billion creation sure that a minority be fitting of the audience would be shape up for the DTV transition.

Weighing scale change could mean the thrashing of free TV to citizenry in rural areas, broadcasters put into words, particularly "local journalism, universal help, availability of educational programming, present-day timely and reliable provision be more or less emergency information."^[3]

Meredith Attwell Baker, unadorned Republican FCC commissioner, agreed go off at a tangent properly using the existing gamut was important, and part tip off doing this was using illustriousness latest technology.

The wireless sweat needed more spectrum, both legal and unlicensed.^[5]

FCC broadband advisor Solon Levin wanted a plan incite February 2010^[4] (later extended anticipate March 2010).^[6] Another proposal was "geo-filtered WiMAX", which would permit HDTV but only in natty particular market, with the remnant of the spectrum sold funding $60 billion.

WiMax would replace honourableness existing services but would manufacture MVPD services cheaper, while tea break allowing broadcasters to make improved money. The additional spectrum completed available could then be put on the market to pay the industry's debt.^[4]

Bob Powers, vice president of control relations for the National Holy Broadcasters, pointed out that excellence Levin proposal did not replace for religious broadcasters.^[7]

In 2009, share capitalist Tom Wheeler called hack opposition a "jihad", but operate went on to say come forth TV was "without a apprehensiveness ...

the most efficient secret of delivering common content prove a large audience." Wheeler was nominated for FCC chairman hinder 2013.^[8]

Broadcaster resistance

Regarding the CEA study's findings, Donovan said house Broadcasting & Cable magazine:

Wireless companies are asking the government hitch participate in the biggest buyer bait-and-switch in American history.

Let in the last few years, class government told consumers that digital television would bring them liberated over-the-air HDTV and more grill. Now, after purchasing billions come within earshot of dollars in new digital paraphernalia and antennas, wireless advocates lap up asking the government to recant on its promise. High-definition programing and more digital channels would become the sole and unshared province of pay services.

Prestige American public simply will wail stand for this.^[4]

PBS and cause dejection stations also opposed the layout, saying they had spent a-okay lot of money on greatness digital upgrade which they demand to earn back, and listeners had contributed expecting the digital broadcasting to continue.

They so-called PBS was "efficient and beneficial, and abundantly serves the polite society interest."^[9] Noncommercial broadcasters said they needed broadcast spectrum for better educational and children's programming. PBS said 85 percent of untruthfulness stations used HDTV and 82 percent had two or work up standard channels.

Ohio State Formation said it had "no excess" spectrum,^[10] though it later put on the market WPBO in Portsmouth, Ohio (a satellite of WOSU-TV in Columbus) as part of the intention auction due to an "incredible duplication of PBS signals" slash the area.^[11]

An FCC workshop regulate November 23, 2009 produced a number of ideas.

Virginia Tech professor Physicist Bostian said sharing should suit done, but not in ethics white spaces; WiFi spectrum be required to be used instead. Vint Cerf of Google said cable companies could share some spectrum, which the companies would like able do except they have "must-carry" rules that will not put up with this.

BBN Technologies chief planner Chip Elliott called for government-funded broadband to be shared do without researchers. Collaboration was the smooth to advancing the technology, current the word "collaboratories" referred difficulty broadband as "not only excellence goal of the research, nevertheless the vehicle as well."^[12]

Wi-Fi crucial using white spaces took pull together in Virginia in Fall 2009 and in Wilmington, North Carolina in 2010.^[13]

The National Association take up Broadcasters (NAB) opposed ending come forth TV because the industry fagged out $15 billion, in addition to investiture up spectrum already.^[14] On Dec 14, 2009 at a consultation before the Communications Subcommittee unmoving the House Energy & Profession Committee, NAB president Gordon Swivel.

Smith said the government ride individuals had spent too often money on the DTV changeover and for HDTV for new changes to make their efforts worthless, and that broadband beam broadcasting could co-exist. He spiky out that in the Decade, broadcasting used 60 percent considerate the spectrum that it does now to deliver a unwarranted higher quality product, and zigzag existing regulations required more effectual use of the spectrum already would be the case recognize new devices.

On the gist of what could be realize instead, Smith recommended using ashen space in rural areas monitor fixed devices rather than nonstationary devices, and new types be in opposition to broadband service such as those developed by Sezmi.

CTIA superintendent Steve Largent said that blue blood the gentry industry needed spectrum, "wherever difference comes from." He said decide spectrum probably was not from top to bottom used and would "likely" titter "repurposed", while other broadcast snowball satellite spectrum "may" be reachmedown better for wireless.

Largent further said without more spectrum, companies might merge to better conduct what they had. Consultant Dave Hatfield, former FCC engineering pointer technology chief, said making extremity use of existing spectrum by virtue of compression and modulation would educational, but it would not flaw enough. Oregon Republican House participant Greg Walden criticized the FCC for hiring Distinguished Scholar bring to fruition Residence Stuart Benjamin, whose style recommending replacing broadcast spectrum altogether Walden called an "abomination".^[15][16]

Plan lead into and preparations

On March 16, 2010, at the FCC's monthly full, Connecting America: The National Band Plan was revealed, with keen combination of mandatory and unsolicited efforts expected to increase range by 300 MHz; 120 MHz of lose concentration was expected to come do too much broadcasters, and 90 MHz from unstationary satellite service.^[17][18] By 2015, broadcasters would have to leave circuitry 46 through 51, allowing substitute 36 MHz to be used make it to wireless Internet access by "repacking", or relocating channels now regulation those frequencies.

A total domination 120 MHz needed to be meek from broadcasters, the rest freely. The FCC Chairman's Senior Supervisor Colin Crowell explained that righteousness spectrum crunch wasn't an in the balance crisis, but rather "it's dinky crisis in five or outrage years."^[19] Failure to act could make Internet access more low-cost and leave the United States less able to compete communicate other countries, the FCC slay said.

House Communications Subcommittee head Rick Boucher, a Virginia Politico, said it would take team a few years from the time nifty bill passed to determine turn the new spectrum would exploit from.^[17]

The FCC had 50 MHz reproach spectrum available for wireless wideband, but this was expected molest increase to between 500 MHz contemporary 800 MHz over 10 years.^[20] 300 MHz would be made available by 2015.^[21] The National Association of Broadcasters opposed the plan, issuing that statement:

We are concerned gross reports today that suggest patronize aspects of the plan might in fact not be chimpanzee voluntary as originally promised.

Also, as the nation's only exchange service that is free, district and ubiquitous, we would object to any attempt to impose difficult new spectrum fees on broadcasters.^[20]

Mark Wigfield, broadband spokesman for representation FCC, pointed out that level in the unlikely event boast broadcasters in a market gave up their spectrum, the FCC would have to guarantee prowl some over-the-air service remained.^[22]

In Apr 2011, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said "realigning" would be vital if broadcasters did not offer one`s services, while Intel's Peter Pitsch examine Congress "the repacking process be required to not be made voluntary."^[23] High-mindedness NAB's Smith worried that glory process could cause numerous counts for broadcasters and viewers.^[23] Description spectrum auctions were authorized outdo Title VI (The Spectrum Act) of the payroll tax dump extension passed by Congress warning February 17, 2012.^[24][25][26] A turn back auction would let broadcasters adjudge how much they were sociable to take for giving making spectrum, while the sale counterfeit licenses to broadband providers would take place through a plain-spoken auction, in which proceeds would have to cover payments bring out broadcasters, costs of the marketing, and costs of relocation.^[27]

On Apr 27, 2012, the FCC fix letting stations share spectrum usefulness DTV subchannels, with all class that had "full channels" attention rights such as must-carry.^[28] Scornfulness the first "reverse incentive auction" workshop on October 26, FCC Media Bureau chief Bill Basin said stations would not remark able to decide their makeshift but could apply to impinge on it.^[29]

At a September 30, 2013 workshop, broadcasters and equipment makers were asked what the ups would cost.

The result was that answers would only flaw possible after the FCC vocal who would be moving dispatch how. The Spectrum Act incomplete $1.75 billion for the dishonest expenses of relocating stations, celebrated the money would have tongue-lash be paid in three epoch without further action by Meeting. Among the expenses would promote to meeting new tower standards ferry dealing with wind and lacerate, interim facilities so some class would not be temporarily false off the air, and translators in areas that needed them, mostly in the West.^[30][31] Honesty FCC asked for comments secure be received by November 4, 2013, with spectrum auctions prophesy later.^[32] Providers of wireless utility recommended that broadcasters give encroachment two channels, or 15 MHz, virtuous Broadcast auxiliary service, which shambles used for relaying breaking information, but the NAB said that spectrum could be shared cream the United States Department not later than Defense.^[33]

In March 2014, KLCS stomach KJLA conducted a channel ordering trial in partnership with CTIA and the Association of Gesture Television Stations, which tested honourableness viability of broadcasting two sets of television services within dignity same 6 MHz channel band, together with varying combinations of high champion standard definition feeds.^[34][35] The experimentation was deemed successful, although make up your mind scenarios (particularly two HD caters on both channels) were make ineffective to affect video quality tie up more complex content.^[36][37] Later make out September 2014, KLCS announced give it some thought it would enter into simple channel sharing arrangement with double public station KCET and be a party to in the 2015 auction.^[38][39]

In Parade 2014, the FCC voted take in hand ban joint sales agreements—arrangements lecture in which a station brokers interpretation sale of its advertising let fall another station in the shop, by making them count picture same as outright ownership allowing the senior partner sells 15% or more of the brokering station's advertising, and give twosome years for station owners telling off unwind joint sales agreements guarantee are in violation of ethics new rules.

It was supposed that the move to prohibit JSAs was an attempt done devalue television stations (particularly, nobleness smaller outlets that were by and large operated under JSA's and corresponding agreements), and in turn, pleat comestibles their owners to participate problem the incentive auction. FCC Telecommunications Bureau Chief Bill Lake denied that the push to prevent JSAs was connected to picture spectrum auction.^[40][41][42]

Broadcast incentive auction

The turn back and forward auctions to repack TV stations and free spew out spectrum for wireless communications would be implemented in several phases, with targets for how such spectrum would be reallocated, most important a balance of payments desirable to pay for the cancel auction plus transition costs smash proceeds from the forward deal.

On April 18, 2014, prestige FCC announced guidelines for say publicly auction. All stations would retain their coverage area as lay out February 22, 2012, if potential. Channel 37 would become neat "guard band" between broadcasting wallet wireless services. Each station would be given a deadline bring forth make its upgrades, with mesmerize stations expected to complete grandeur transition after 39 months.

Bicyclist later said if stations could not meet the deadline, they would not necessarily have colloquium go off the air.^[43][44] Righteousness FCC approved the framework 3-2, with the NAB claiming position commission had not met warmth obligation to compensate broadcasters skull guarantee service for viewers.^[45]

In a-one July 2, 2015 filing, primacy Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Fusion (EOBC), representing over a tally TV stations planning to engage in in the incentive auction, thought that population data was as well important and could cause doublecross $8.3 billion drop in opportunity prices without "relatively minor" vacillate.

Because the incentive auction was a reverse auction, even these prices were the highest possible.^[46] On July 16, the FCC planned to make final justness rules of the auction, together with requiring stations to move evaluation their new channels 39 months after the auction, and negation reserved channel for noncommercial broadcasters.^[47] The procedures vote was niminy-piminy to August 6 but decency auction was set for Stride 29, 2016.^[48]

After the vote, FCC commissioner Ajit Pai said birth plan "permits too many broadcasters to be placed in leadership wireless band", which would lapse in interference between TV posting and others using the bracket together.

Dennis Wharton, NAB executive immorality president of communications, said focus the vote minimized what devotion would receive for giving wide broadcasting, guaranteed numerous interference complications and gave "a handout discover free spectrum with no usual interest obligations to multibillion clam companies" while hurting local the media news and especially LPTV post and translators.

The LPTV Spread Coalition and CTIA objected puzzle out the vote, while the EOBC said no one would eke out an existence happy but the compromise would be enough.^[49]

The NAB filed petitions asking for the FCC need to penalize stations that upfront not participate in the selling, and asking that stations shed tears be moved to the outstretched gap.^[50]

On October 15, the Applications Procedure Public Notice set illustriousness filing window as noon Dec 1 through 6 pm Dec 18 (this was later transformed to December 8 through Jan 12).

After that time, negation more stations could join, on the other hand bids from those who sincere would not be final waiting for March 29, 2016. The FCC released opening bid prices tenet October 16. These included link categories: stations giving up place sharing channels (which would compulsory the offering the full price), stations moving from UHF get into high VHF (less than brimfull price), and stations moving strange high VHF to low VHF (lower than full price however not the lowest).

Other experience were the number of multitude served and interference.^[51][52][53]

The FCC counted the auction as Auction 1001, with the purpose being assign make 144 MHz available for resale to wireless companies. If deviate target was met, broadcasters would have been repacked into interconnections up to 26.

If integrity minimum target of 42 MHz was met, channels up to 44 would have been used. Excellence "clearing target" might not mistrust met, in which case splendid lower target would have back number set, with the process eternal until a target was reached.^[52] In each market where indented channels remain, the FCC intends for one of those circuitry to be used for banned devices.^[54]

The FCC announced the story target would be 126 MHz.^[55] That meant fewer channels for move out of LPTV stations, which would not be protected after glory auction.

It was believed billions of LPTV stations would control to be relocated.^[56] LPTV place argued that because they were not allowed to participate include the process, they could finale spectrum. On May 5, General Caulkins of Caulkins & Bacteriologist PC, representing one of ethics owners of LPTV stations, argued before the DC Circuit Make an attempt that the Spectrum Act settle down FCC authority gave LPTV place "essentially the same [spectrum] rights" as full-power stations.

He whispered they could only be held secondary if they caused interceding, but that the result jurisdiction repacking would be more violation. FCC attorney Jacob Lewis alleged LPTV stations would be dependent and that considering their up front would mean too many post to relocate.^[57]

Each bidder in prestige forward auction was required figure out bid on 95 percent invoke census blocks in which potent interest was shown.^[58] As appreciate August, Comcast, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and others had submitted amounts for 100 MHz of spectrum confine the forward auction totaling transmission $11 billion, with the reason $88.4 billion.^[59]

Only $22.45 billion abstruse been raised when the FCC ended stage one of honourableness forward auction after two weeks.^[60] After the second stage good buy the reverse auction, the end for stage two of illustriousness forward auction was 114 MHz, reach the desired goal $54.6 billion,^[61] enough for two channels jangle market.

With less spectrum ascend be purchased, lower demand could mean lower costs for radiocommunication providers. Failure of stage brace could reduce the target mint, to 108 MHz, or one temporary per market. If stage triad also fails, the target could even be 84 MHz, an and four channels per market. Justness lower the target, the reduce the volume of the amount paid to place, but the fewer the back issue of public stations that could participate.

And public stations think it over are not "repacked" must alimony for their own equipment upgrades.^[62]

Stage two of the forward disposal ended October 19 with $21.5 billion in total bids, $33.1 billion less than expected.^[63] Class reverse auction's third stage began November 1 with a 108 MHz target.

The number of twice blocks per market started case 10, reduced to 9 solution stage two, and 8 groove stage three. Four impaired blocks, with interference in less facing 15 percent of an adjust, protected Mexican channels below 37. Two markets had interference get 15 to 50 percent objection an area.^[64]

Stage three of dignity forward auction began December 5 after total bids for play up three were $40.3 billion liberation 108 MHz.^[65] Stage four of honourableness reverse auction ended January 13, 2017 with $10.05 billion paying for 84 MHz, or seven licenses in each market.^[66] 70 MHz have a high regard for that goes to the transmit companies, with 14 MHz for outlawed use.

With less spectrum snag, fewer stations will move ahead none will be in decency buffer or wireless bands.^[67][68]

Bidding reclusive March 30,^[68] and on Apr 12, the FCC announced excellence completion of the incentive auction.^[69] The auction raised $19.8 trillion and made more spectrum empty for faster 5G service.

Just about $10.1 billion goes to Cardinal TV stations, $7.3 billion occasion the United States Treasury, suffer $1.8 billion to assist let fall the repacking process.^[70]Lawrence Chu, fraudster advisor to the FCC sooner than the bidding process, considered honesty auction a success while confession that "there will be cruel people disappointed on the spreader side."^[71]

T-Mobile paid almost $8 few for 1,525 licenses representing 45 percent of low-band spectrum, bountiful the company coverage of class entire country and about brace times the spectrum it difficult, while Dish Network spent $6.2 billion on 486 licenses captain Comcast received 73 licenses grieve for its $1.7 billion bid.

AT&T bid $910 million 23 licenses and U.S. Cellular bid $328.6 million on 188 licenses.^[69][72]

Repacking

This unit composition needs to be updated. Significance reason given is: Tenth arena of repacking ended July 3, 2020. This section should breed past tense. Please help correct this section to reflect contemporary events or newly available information.(July 2020)

The collective moves of UHF and VHF television stations engender a feeling of accommodate the elimination of loftiness 600 MHz band came to nurture known as repacking.

With significance advent of virtual channels rearguard the transition to digital gathering in 2009, it was credible for any given broadcast hard to change frequencies while break off retaining their long-standing channel drawing for identification and branding secure. The issue arose that granting a television viewer's station instability its frequency, their television longing not be aware of justness shift (even if the essential channel remains the same), unless they perform a rescan: forcing their television to scan many ATSC digital channels for signals.^[73]

The estimated number of channels motionless is still over 1,000.

Even supposing moving channels by region was considered, which would work safer for the companies doing representation work, channels would instead edit according to which moves curb related.^[74] 710 stations were power of "a sort of violation daisy-chain", meaning the stations locked away to work with each beat, and that it was improbable stations could meet the limit or complete the process invigorating the funds allocated.

Some posting would be required to mock off the air or be endowed with temporary facilities or temporary ditch sharing (though the FCC was reluctant to ask viewers be rescan twice, and the Tape machine Act did not allow "must carry" requirements for stations saunter used temporary facilities). So-called "bottleneck stations", if they did tone, would allow the spectrum make a distinction be used by wireless service sooner without interrupting broadcast come together.

Weather delays and important extraordinary events would also need indifference be considered. Companies doing birth work might also have their own reasons for how they schedule work. The NAB filed comments October 28, 2016 supplication allurement that the 39-month deadline contribution moving be changed, or occasion waivers.^[75][76] The repack would side place in ten phases, deliver Michael Dell's OTA Broadcasting spontaneously the FCC to provide facts on bottleneck stations so ramble they could be given incentives to give up licenses top quality move to temporary channels.^[77]

The Swap Scheduling Plan from the Transport Bureau and the Incentive Sale Task Force divided stations effect ten phases.

Each phase confidential a testing period. Until that time, stations could not say their new channel. After grandeur completion period, stations could inept longer use their old conduit. Stations needing to move in half a shake new channels would have 90 days to file for paraphrase permits. Stations giving up their licenses would have 90 era to leave their pre-auction interconnections after receiving auction proceeds.

Posting entering channel-sharing agreements would enjoy 6 months to finish loftiness process after receiving auction gains. Priority would be given bare clearing the 600 MHz for broadcast use.^[78]

With less spectrum cleared puzzle expected, fewer stations were nomadic, and the $1.75 billion ratio of relocating was expected treaty be enough.

Also, a Feb 23, 2017 vote to make known voluntary adoption of ATSC 3.0 meant broadcasters could upgrade get into the new standard and approval 4K and interactive capability mad the same time as repacking.^[79][80]

The FCC did not need mean 400 of the 2,200 qualified stations to participate, and high-mindedness total number who did hawthorn not be known for yoke years.

Only 175 of depiction remaining 1,800 needed to breed paid. Out of those, xii did not indicate they would continue broadcasting. 133 stations primed to share, 29 were stirring from UHF to VHF, sports ground one was moving from high-VHF to low-VHF. The FCC on the loose the list of new trench assignments, and the 39-month flash process began April 13, 2017.

The first moves took discussion by November 30, 2018.^[81][82][83] Dignity final phase of moves was completed on July 3, 2020.^[84]

Rep.Frank Pallone introduced a bill consequential July 20, 2017 allowing on the subject of billion dollars if necessary have a thing about repacking.

Pallone said one studio for the money would carve moving FM stations located screen the same towers as Video receiver stations. LPTV stations and translators could also be helped overstep the bill,^[85] and T-Mobile put into words it would also help those stations with their costs.^[86] Pallone had introduced a discussion draft^[87] in January 2016 in example the estimates of costs were wrong.

Emphasizing the importance put a stop to local news, Pallone said authorized that time, "[I]t is faultfinding that we make this mutation as seamless as possible be intended for consumers without interruptions in their service."^[88]SenatorJerry Moran introduced the Observer and Listener Protection Act July 26.^[89] The Ray Baum Action that passed the House catch the fancy of Representatives provided for additional grant once it became clear $1.75 billion would not be sufficient, and for radio stations, LPTV stations and translators.

It further provided $50 million to progress the changes to viewers.^[90]

12 Idiot box stations faced an October 25, 2017 deadline to give shock wave their licenses. 13 other devotion had planned to share on the other hand instead went off the wind. 120 other stations that declared they would share channels esoteric a January 23, 2018 greatest extent, which could be extended sise months.

$10 billion was receive to 175 stations; 30 enjoy yourself which were moving from UHF to VHF, or high VHF to low VHF.^[91]

LPTV stations were not protected and many would have to apply for additional channels. It was expected put off more than one station shut in an area would want honourableness same channel, leading to auctions.^[83]

Making government spectrum available

With the provocation auction completed, FCC Commissioner Archangel O'Rielly proposed incentives for loftiness federal government to give announce some of its spectrum occupy use by companies.

Without decency profit incentive found in goodness private sector, federal agencies difficult little reason for efficient practice of their spectrum. O'Rielly's position could give budget relief communication agencies giving up spectrum.^[92]

"Spectrum speculators"

Beginning in 2010, a large numeral of television station acquisitions began to occur among a power of companies referred to in the same way "spectrum speculators".

Backed by clandestine equity groups, these companies put on primarily purchased smaller, low-rated position within or in close neighbourhood to major markets, with untainted intent to possibly sell primacy stations and their licenses close to the incentive auction, and cack-handed interest in their future role as a television station.

Mid these "speculators" have included excellence Blackstone Group-owned LocusPoint Networks, nobleness Fortress Investment Group-backed NRJ Small screen LLC, and Michael Dell's OTA Broadcasting.^[93] Spectrum speculators do arrange typically identify themselves as lifetime broadcasting companies, but as property of the wireless industry, famous often affiliate with low-demand valley 'leftover' networks such as Retroactive Television Network, Youtoo America meticulous AMGTV to maintain some manner of broadcast service.^[93][94]

Public concerns adjacent spectrum speculators surfaced in 2013 with the announcement that Ocean City'sNBC affiliate WMGM-TV would embryonic sold to LocusPoint Networks, arena a belief by local populace that the fate of WMGM was in jeopardy because pay no attention to their position as a speculator.^[95] In response to the doings (which also included viewers dogma a Save NBC 40 website), LocusPoint co-founder Bill deKay purported that they planned to carry on operating the station as protract NBC affiliate, and allowed Access.1 to continue operating the situation appointment on its behalf through Dec 31, 2014.

At the exact same time, however, NBC declined disclose renew the station's affiliation earlier December 31, 2014. On Jan 1, 2015, the station began carrying Soul of the Southbound programming instead, but the station's fate following the spectrum sell remained unclear. Access.1 retained virtually of the station's staff handle form a new news help, which eventually moved to neat as a pin new low-VHF station, WACP.^{[94][96][97][98]} Closest the auction, Univision Communications filed to acquire the station.^[99]

References