IATF Allocates $1 Billion of Reimbursement; Costs to be Lower; Many Legislators Seek No Repack Delay
The FCC Incentive Auction Task Force will allow mostly broadcasters and some MVPDs to draw initially on $1 billion of the $1.75 billion repacking reimbursement fund, the IATF announced. That’s less than was requested by NAB, Ion and public TV groups. But the estimated cost of the repacking dropped from $2.12 billion to $1.86 billion, IATF said, a number likely to keep changing as repacking progresses. A smaller shortfall would make it more likely that Congress will authorize more funds to make up the gap, broadcast industry officials said.Articles for “Bulletin”
Senate Commerce Eyes Aug. 2 FCC Nominees' Markup; Committee Democrats Seek Deal on Clyburn Successor
The Senate Commerce Committee tentatively plans an Aug. 2 markup on nominations of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, commissioner nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel and other nominees, committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us Wednesday. Meanwhile, Committee Democrats seek some deal on the FCC nominees that would assuage their concerns about how Senate Commerce would handle a possible Democratic nominee to replace current Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.