[Satellite TODAY Insider 02-17-11] Mobile carrier trade group CTIA and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) have proposed spectrum incentive auctions that could raise up to $2.3 billion for U.S. TV stations and $33 billion or more for U.S. treasury based on the value of the spectrum, the two groups said in a Feb. 15 report to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
    The CTIA and CEA incentive auctions would see TV stations give up 120 MHz of spectrum in exchange for a share of auction proceeds. The spectrum would be auctioned for much-needed commercial mobile broadband use as service providers continue to face drastic shortages, the trade groups said in the report.
    In their proposal, CTIA and CEA said that if the incentive auctions sold spectrum at the same value as the FCC’s previous B block auction of 700 MHz spectrum, they would raise about $99 billion. The trade groups estimated that $565 million raised by the incentive auctions would go to help relocate TV channels that voluntarily give up their spectrum, and $1.2 billion to $2.3 billion would be the business enterprise value of the spectrum to the TV stations. 
    The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) criticized the proposed auctions. "It’s hard to take seriously an analysis of broadcast spectrum values done by parties with a vested interest in forcing scores of broadcasters out of business. It’s noteworthy that CTIA and CEA cavalierly suggest eliminating ‘smaller stations in larger markets” which translates into fewer niche broadcast stations that serve important immigrant communities and religious audiences. NAB does not oppose spectrum auctions that are truly voluntary, and we look forward to an informed dialogue in coming months on the enduring value of free and local television for all Americans," the NAB said in a statement.
    The proposal follows recommendations made in the FCC’s national broadband plan released in March, which include making 500 MHz of spectrum available for mobile broadband and other uses over the next decade – 120 MHz of that spectrum would come from TV stations.
    "This auction has got to happen in the United States," CTIA’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Guttman-McCabe said in a statement. "It’s not that we’re going to fall behind; we’re already behind."

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