The Federal Communications Commission announced the first ever Incentive Auction involving broadcast television spectrum to meet the demand for spectrum from wireless providers. Scheduled to be held on March 29, 2016, the Incentive Auction will permit television broadcasters to voluntarily go off the air by auctioning off their spectrum rights. Once this reverse auction has been concluded, the FCC will move forward with the forward auction and allow wireless carriers and other players in need of spectrum to bid to purchase spectrum.The telecommunications and technology industries must be prepared to meet the hurdles posed by the highly complicated auction. Wiley Rein partners Eric DeSilva and Robert McDowell will guide you through the ins and outs of the Incentive Auction and help you understand what to expect during the auction. They will help you:
- Examine the options for broadcasters participating in the reverse auction
- Understand what happens during each round of bidding during the reverse auction
- Explore the legal and business factors that broadcasters must consider when taking steps to move off relinquished spectrum
- Analyze the forward auction and how to bid on blocks of spectrum
- Comprehend the clock and assignment phases of the forward auction
