BROADCASTERS SCRAMBLE TO SLOW FCC JUGGERNAUT ON WHITE SPACES

摘要

The FCC should seek public comment on the Office of Engineering and Technology's report on the use of the TV white spaces before adopting final rules, officials of the Association for Maximum Service Television told an aide to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. MSTV said in a filing there are "dramatic inconsistencies" between the testing data reported and the conclusions that the Office drew in the report. The FCC released the report late Wednesday and plans a vote on rules at the Nov.4 meeting. Broadcasters' groups and the networks filed an emergency petition at the FCC Friday asking the agency to seek comment on the report. "Simply put, until two days ago, it has been the Commission's practice to adopt rules based on complex data only after allowing the public an opportunity to comment on that data," the broadcasters said. "Failure to provide adequate opportunity for public comment on information so central to the outcome of this proceeding raises serious questions about compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act." NAB, MSTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and the Open Mobile Video Coalition signed the petition.