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A Groundbreaking Event for the Broadcast Television, Mobile Wireless, and Technology Sectors of the U.S. Economy

This innovative and unprecedented process brings market forces to bear on many of the most important decisions about spectrum reallocation.

The Learn Everything About Reverse-Auctions Now Program (LEARN) is designed to provide broadcasters and all stakeholders with valuable information about the business opportunities created by the incentive auction, as well as the proposed incentive auction process.
The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on October 2, 2012 which launches the process which will leverage the collective expertise of the leading authorities in telecommunications, computer science, engineering, economics and law, as well as members of the public at large, to craft the best possible incentive auction.
Incentive Auction Staff Summary Comment on the Rulemaking Explore the Rulemaking

History of Incentive Auctions

Congress recognized the revolutionary possibilities presented by the FCC’s incentive auction proposal and, in passing the Spectrum Act in early 2012, authorized the FCC to conduct incentive auctions, with the first auction to be of broadcast television spectrum.

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Congress recognized the revolutionary possibilities presented by the FCC’s incentive auction proposal and, in passing the Spectrum Act in early 2012, authorized the FCC to conduct incentive auctions, with the first auction to be of broadcast television spectrum.
The broadcast television spectrum incentive auction will be the first such auction ever conducted and, accordingly, requires a new and unique design. The incentive auction itself will be comprised of two separate auctions -- a reverse auction and a forward auction. The lynchpin joining the reverse and the forward auctions is the “repacking” process.

Proposed Auction Design

A Novel Design for a Novel Process

The broadcast television spectrum incentive auction will be the first such auction ever conducted and, accordingly, requires a new and unique design. The incentive auction itself will be comprised of two separate auctions -- a reverse auction and a forward auction. The lynchpin joining the reverse and the forward auctions is the “repacking” process.

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Reverse Auction

The reverse auction is where broadcasters will bid to voluntarily relinquish spectrum rights in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from the forward auction. Learn about who can participate, what the options are for participating and more.

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The reverse auction is where broadcasters will bid to voluntarily relinquish spectrum rights in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from the forward auction. Learn about who can participate, what the options are for participating and more.
The forward auction is where the potential users of repurposed spectrum bid for new flexible-use licenses. The FCC is familiar with forward auctions in the spectrum context, and has been conducting them for nearly two decades.

Forward Auction

The forward auction is where the potential users of repurposed spectrum bid for new flexible-use licenses. The FCC is familiar with forward auctions in the spectrum context, and has been conducting them for nearly two decades.

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Repacking

Repacking involves assigning channels to the broadcast television stations that remain on the air after the incentive auction in order to clear contiguous blocks of spectrum suitable for flexible use. The Notice considers only a reassignment of channels, not geographic moves of stations; however, a station that opts to channel share may have to move to a new geographic location – i.e., its sharing partner’s tower.

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Repacking involves assigning channels to the broadcast television stations that remain on the air after the incentive auction in order to clear contiguous blocks of spectrum suitable for flexible use. The Notice considers only a reassignment of channels, not geographic moves of stations; however, a station that opts to channel share may have to move to a new geographic location – i.e., its sharing partner’s tower.

Transition

After the auctions we will need to ensure the successful transition of some broadcasters to new channels including reimbursement of relocation costs. We will also need to issue licenses to the new users of the repurposed spectrum.

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Videos

Broadcaster LEARN Program Workshop
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FCC Meeting Announcing Rulemaking
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TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund Workshop
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