SBE To Join FCC Spectrum Forum After All

The Society of Broadcast Engineers' invitation to participate in the FCC Broadcast Engineering Forum comes after SBE President Vincent Lopez last week sent an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski complaining of being left out.
TVNewsCheck,

When the FCC Broadcast Engineering Forum convenes at the agency's Washington headquarters tomorrow, the Society of Broadcast Engineers will be represented after all.

According to SBE Executive Director John Poray, two members of the society will participate in the day-long forum aimed at exploring ways of using broadcast spectrum more efficiently and perhaps giving some of it back so that it can be repurposed for wireless broadband.

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The  reps: Ralph Hogan, associate general manager, Rio Salado College Division of Public Service, Tempe, Ariz., who also represents the SBE at the Advanced Television Systems Committee; and Joe Snelson, VP and director of engineering, Meredith Local Media Group.

SBE had to work to get invitations from the FCC.

After the FCC staff ignored SBE entreaties, SBE President Vincent Lopez last week sent an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski complaining of being left out.

"At worst, it appears that the participants in the panel were chosen in order to provide the commission with the appearance of an industry consensus, evidencing a predetermined outcome," Lopez charged.

The letter seems to have done the trick. An invitation to SBE followed shortly and was quickly accepted.

Hogan will sit on the VHF reception panel, while Snelson participates on the spectrum repacking panel.

For a full list of the forum participants and the schedule, click here.

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Comments (9) -

David David posted a year ago
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This whole plan is a conjured up solution to a problem that does not exist. This "plan" will hit a brick wall with the dramatic shift in Congress this November.
TVGuy Nickname posted a year ago
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What DAVID DAVID said. I just hope he's a prophet!
Chip Harwood posted a year ago
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DAVID DAVID change in November please for many many reason anti-business anti-broadcaster are two
TVRFPE Nickname posted a year ago
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In what way would Republican control of Congress diminish the wireless industry's desire to take spectrum from broadcast television? The wireless industry would merely revise its selling points to echo themes popular in Republican circles and continue on with its campaign.
PSIPthing Nickname posted a year ago
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actually, the wireless industry has no such desire. You might not have been paying attention. This is the federal goveronemnt -- recent auction proceeds and results notwithstanding -- thinking that there might be interest in more spectrum for wireless at some point in the future, and kicking broadcasting's ass right now. David David had it just about right, at least in the first sentence. Time will tell what happens in November, but the trends are decidely against the D's.
Snap Nickname posted a year ago
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We have Ivan Seidenberg of Verizon saying that they don't want any more. Of course Verizon just paid 4.7 Billion for 20 MHz of the 700 MHz band, and if the FCC dumps a bunch more spectrum on the market, that spectrum will lose value and Verizon will lose its current advantage.
PSIPthing Nickname posted a year ago
and, if Verizon doesn't need new spectrum and they're the largest, and AT&T has plenty of spectrum in reserve with whch to provide misservice, the big bidders will be ...?
Snap Nickname posted a year ago
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I hope that for whatever reason the plan hits a wall. The question is are those of us who are against reallocation going to be able to rally Congressional opposition to the kill broadcast TV agenda of these elitists.
AmericaRight Nickname posted a year ago
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What a joke! The public portion runs from 3p-6p on a Friday afternoon in DC? Has anyone ever been in DC on a Friday afternoon? Everyone has left for home by 3p. And the public gets to speak or ask questions for all of 45 minutes from 5:15p-6p? I'd wager there will be no one in the audience at that time. Which is probably just what the organizers at the FCC want. This forum is hidden in plain sight and will accomplish nothing. And since when is "by invitation only" the proper way to solicit industry input? EVERYONE with an interest should be heard and should have standing to participate in the panels. This meeting could just as well be held in the Kremlin for all the public interest it will represent.

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