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Pallone on FCC’s Cost Estimate for Incentive Auction Repacking

July 14, 2017

“This was a foreseeable issue that Democrats have been warning about since last Congress.”

Washington, D.C. Today, Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement after the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force announced that broadcasters have requested $2.1 billion – significantly more than the $1.75 billion set aside – to cover costs related to the auction. Last Congress, Pallone released a discussion draft of the Viewer Protection Act, which would bridge the funding gap between the FCC's estimates and broadcasters' requests:

"This was a foreseeable issue that Democrats have been warning about since last year, and I plan to introduce the Viewer Protection Act next week in order to fix the problem. My bill – which was released last Congress – will provide additional funding for the incentive auction repacking reimbursements so that no consumer will be without the essential local broadcast stations that they rely on. I hope that the Republicans will quickly take up this legislation to resolve this issue."