back to article FCC flashes cash at broadcasters ahead of wireless auction

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is pitching broadcasters to join in on its upcoming wireless spectrum auction with the promise of huge payouts from mobile giants if the TV industry give portions of its broadcast space. In a presentation (PDF) to broadcasters, the FCC said that local TV stations will be able to …

  1. Tom 35

    Double bonus for Tom Wheeler's masters

    More bandwidth for their mobile networks and shift more people onto cable TV.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Several years ago the four major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) were on record saying that they preferred the cable channel route as they make more money than on the broadcast side. The cable TV channels get the money from the cable companies directly and the network also sells ads. With broadcast, you have a third-party that has some advertising spots and gets money from cable companies to carry the signal.

    Going with the majority, get rid of broadcast TV in major markets as many won't even notice if it went away.

    1. Purple-Stater

      "Going with the majority, get rid of broadcast TV in major markets as many won't even notice if it went away."

      i can't say that I'd support pushing television, and the accompanying access to an emergency address system, out of the reach of the poor. It's a horrible idea.

      1. Tom 13

        Re: the accompanying access to an emergency address system

        If you're in a major metropolitan area, it's already out of the reach of the poor. Too much steel and concrete between their antennas and the broadcast tower. That's while metropolitan areas adopted cable in the first place.

        Besides which, if you're too poor for cable there's better access to the emergency broadcast system: it's called radio and they're cheaper than tvs.

        1. Purple-Stater

          Re: the accompanying access to an emergency address system

          In the USA, the most populous FIFTY cities account for less than 20% of the countries population. I would argue that the number of poor who can't get broadcast television because of major metropolitan construction issues is pretty limited. Also, try looking at midwestern states, where more than a third of the population does not even have access to cable television. Granted they do have access to satellite television, but there is still very limited internet connectivity.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        They already have access to an emergency address system. The poor are entitled to a federal subsidized phone; which these days is a mobile phone. Mobile phone systems send emergency alerts out. So, the poor already have it being paid for by the taxpayer. See, let the mobile carriers use the spectrum and it helps the majority, even the poor.

  3. All names Taken
    Alien

    Avoid the Brit error?

    Dear Uncle Sam

    Please try to avoid the Brit error of assuming money earned in taxation is new income.

    It isn't. All that happens is that the end user, in this case your own citizens?, just pays tax by proxy?

    1. Tom 13

      Re: Avoid the Brit error?

      Oh they're way past that. They think it all belongs to them and they're only deciding how much of it they should loan to us for a while.

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