FCC Chairman Brendan Carr likes to move fast on stuff; it’s part of his brand. But the National Association of Broadcasters has joined aviation interests in asking the FCC to slow down at least a little when it comes to further changes in the upper C-band.
NAB said it supports a request submitted by a coalition that includes Airlines for America and the Aerospace Industries Association. They asked the FCC for a 30-day extension to comment about the proposal. Right now comments are due Jan. 5 and reply comments Feb. 3.
[Related: “FCC Advances Proposal to Repurpose Upper C-Band”]
The commission has been instructed by Congress to complete a system of competitive bidding for at least 100 MHz in the upper C-band no later than July 2027.
NAB said it is aware that the FCC has already declined a request to extend the comment deadline, but it said a “brief, targeted extension” would improve the quality and completeness of the record while preserving the FCC’s ability to meet its deadline.
“[T]he upper C-band proceeding encompasses complex technical, operational and safety-related considerations across a uniquely broad set of stakeholders — including the aviation industry and broadcasters,” NAB wrote.
“Developing the comprehensive, cross-industry input needed to support a robust rulemaking record requires the exchange of significant technical data, operational analyses and confidential information.”
NAB said the process was disrupted by the federal government shutdown; it said FAA and aviation industry work on the matter stalled as a result. “Significantly, we are expecting the FAA to issue an NPRM that will substantially inform industry responses in this proceeding.”
The holiday period also makes it harder for experts in aviation and broadcast to weigh in. “Finally, the commission’s comment period for the Fifth [Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] of the Next Gen TV Proceeding largely coincides with that of the upper C-band NPRM and involves many of the same organizations and subject matter experts.”
The FCC already reallocated the bottom half of the C-band for wireless use and moved broadcasters’ satellite services to the upper half just five years ago.
The NAB has expressed concern over the newly proposed reallocation. In a meeting with commissioners during the shutdown, it emphasized the role satellite operations in the upper C-band play for program distribution and delivery of radio and TV programming.
