FCC Auction of New DTV Stations in New Jersey and Delaware Set for Feb. 15, 2011
As we wrote about about back in September, the FCC has allocated two new DTV stations in the Mid-Atlantic region, one in New Jersey -- Channel 4 in Atlantic City -- and one in Delaware -- Channel 5 in Seaford). With the release yesterday of its further Public Notice, the Commission has now officially slated the auction of the two new channels for Tuesday, February 15, 2011. In the auction Notice, available here, the Commission formally adopts the rules and the minimum opening bids for the auction, setting the starting point for each construction permit at $200,000. Applicants interested in participating in the auction will need to put at least that much on deposit in order to be eligible to bid, and will be required to start the bidding at that amount. And while $200k is the starting point, there is no limit to the ultimate purchase price.
Short Form Applications on FCC Form 175 must be submitted by 6:00 PM ET on December 15, 2010 in order to participate, and upfront deposits are due by 6:00 PM ET on January 21, 2010. The FCC will hold a Mock Auction on February 11, 2011 to allow eligible bidders to test out the bidding interface, and the real thing will kick off on February 15, 2011. As we discussed in our earlier post, given the looming issue of incentive auctions and spectrum repacking, as well as the reception issues attendant with low VHF channels, it will be interesting to see who turns out to participate in the auction, but as evidenced by the minimum opening bids, there's still plenty of value in a full power television construction permit and the cable and satellite must-carry rights that go along with it.
What a joke, a minimum bid. Why not start at one dollar and let the market decide? It'll only increase bidding by putting more people into the field. Competition always produces better results. The FCC is greedy. I hope they don't get more than the 200K.
Smartcomm is selling their services to develop applications for license from Fcc, for the 800 MHz spectrum, that will opened up when Sprint-Nextell vacate their 800 MHz bands as ordered by the Fcc. Being told by Smartcomm that these licenses will be granted on a first come first served basis at no cost the each applicant(only pay fees, and cost to engineer by Smartcomm...totalling $ 20,000 to 30000 per license) In light of info on Fcc auctions for past licences, is this scenerio sold by Smartcomm...for real...