Senate Votes to Reassign TV Spectrum

[Gregg Lengling]

September 29, 2004
By Todd Shields


The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to reassign spectrum now used by TV channels 63, 64, 68 and 69 for use by emergency workers by 2008. The measure, although short of final Senate passage, marked the greatest success yet for those seeking to wrest spectrum from broadcasters for other uses.

Acting without a roll call vote, the Senate attached the spectrum measure to a bill still under debate. Whether the House would follow is unclear. A day earlier, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chair of the Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over TV, said he did not favor moving now because he wished to adopt a more comprehensive approach next year.

 
The Senate's action came in response to the 9/11 Commission, which called for freeing spectrum for use by police, firefighters and other first responders who suffered poor communications after the attack on the World Trade Center.

The Senate attached the spectrum measure to a broad intelligence reform bill. That could increase its appeal as a response to terrorism, which in turn could bring pressure on Barton to bring forth corresponding legislation in the House.

At the least, if the House and Senate each pass broad anti-terror legislation, the spectrum measure will be considered in a conference committee. Such a body, made up of lawmakers from each chamber, reconciles differing language in each chambers' version and prepares a final version for the president's signature.

Broadcasters most at risk of facing forced re-assignments of their stations include Paxson Communications Corp., religious broadcasters and Univision Communications, which has Spanish-language stations in the affected frequencies.

In theory TV stations affected could continue operations on other frequencies, but crowding in the spectrum could make it difficult to find new spots. Even if reassignment goes well, broadcasters fear disruption of their relationship with their audience.