WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the official end of the FCC broadcast spectrum incentive auction repack, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith:
“I am incredibly proud of the broadcast television industry for its herculean efforts to meet the FCC’s aggressive repacking deadlines, despite complex and extenuating circumstances.
“NAB thanks the FCC staff for their flexibility in working with stations to facilitate transitions and grant extensions when possible. We are also grateful to Congress for allocating the additional funds needed to fully reimburse broadcasters for costs associated with these mandatory moves.
“There is still much work to be done. To meet FCC deadlines, many stations have been required to operate on temporary facilities that do not serve all station viewers. NAB will continue to work with the FCC to ensure that these stations are made whole, and that affected viewers regain access to their local channels.
“In this uncertain time, it is vital that TV viewers have access to local news, entertainment and lifeline information.”
Background:
NAB’s consumer education campaign, TV Answers, will continue until all stations have transitioned to their permanent facilities. The campaign serves as a tool for stations to help over-the-air television viewers navigate frequency changes, which all told stand to impact nearly 1,000 TV stations nationwide.
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