November 22, 2011 – With the failure of the Congressional deficit-reduction super committee to come up with a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion, the spectrum incentive auction plan now goes back to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for markup in the next few weeks. On the Senate side, SB-911 has already moved out of committee.
The Coalition for Free TV and Broadband says this is an opportune time to revisit its Broadcast Overlay Plan which would return some $200 Billion to the Federal Government for deficit reduction, far greater than the $6.8 B forecast from a spectrum auction.
Committee chairman Irwin Podhajser says lawmakers should carefully study the proposed Overlay Plan. “Instead of confiscating thousands of television stations across America, dealing with inevitable conflicts with Canada and Mexico over shared frequencies and forcing thousands of people to lose their jobs, Congress has a golden opportunity to utilize the existing television infrastructure to deliver low-cost broadband service to urban and rural areas.”
“We thank each member of the Super Committee for their work in trying to accomplish a very difficult task,” said Coalition member Jim West, President of LegacyTV. “However, this could be a silver lining. It gives us all time to wisely consider alternative means of lowering the deficit, with a progressive, technologically superior, economically-vetted plan.”
The Coalition feels its Overlay Plan would be the best solution to meet the nation’s growing broadband needs. Rather than decimating an industry, there could be great synergy in working with the nation’s wireless industry to meet the needs of people across the nation.
“From the smallest community station to the largest market broadcaster, the U.S. needs over-the-air television,” says Lee Miller, Coalition member and CEO of LufkinTV. “The current scheme to auction off television spectrum will destroy free over-the-air television broadcasting, will kill jobs and jeopardize national security.”
About the Coalition
The Coalition For Free TV and Broadband is a group of television broadcasters, concerned organizations, and individual citizens and has formed to ensure the survival of free television and to offer solutions to the nation for better, cheaper wireless broadband utilizing the broadcast industry. More information is available at www.FreeTVandBroadband.org .
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