NAB slams Dish, Time Warner for broadcast spectrum hoarding Read more: NAB slams Dish, Time Warner for broadcast spectrum hoarding

"In a letter to key lawmakers on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, Smith noted that many communications carriers are simply sitting of vast unused swaths of the stuff, and alleged that they plan to continue to sit on it in order to sell the channels at a handy profit later on, as demand continues to outstrip supply.
Wireless industry association CTIA called NAB's allegations "baffling."

That may be, but Dish Network and TWC are two obvious offenders, Smith noted, and there's proof. For instance, Dish CEO Charles Ergen during the latest earnings call said that spectrum was a great asset and a "speculative investment," Smith wrote.

Dish, which is in the middle of buying satellite company DBSD, has no "grand strategy" to use that company's satellite spectrum licenses at this point, Ergen said-- and Smith pointed out.

Meanwhile Time Warner Cable, which is an investor in WiMAX operator Clearwire, also said that for now, it won't sell or use its spectrum holdings.

TWC has a standing pre-arrangement with Clearwire to act as an MVNO on the CLWR network, to boot.

"The pattern of spectrum speculation from Time Warner Cable and Dish Network is especially troubling given that the FCC's National Broadband Plan proclaimed a year ago that there is a 'looming spectrum crisis,'" wrote Smith.

"If America is truly facing a spectrum shortage, then it is imperative that policymakers receive an unbiased and thorough report on how private companies like Dish, Time Warner Cable and government agencies are using or warehousing this precious resource."

He also offered an architecture solution: the one-to-many broadcast distribution model is far more spectrally efficient than the existing wireless tower-to-device unicast approach, Smith said, offering to engage in a braintrust activity to help solve spectrum scarcity issues: "We look forward to working with you to help sustain America’s competitive edge in technology."

Source of Post

http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011030210688/nab-calls-for-congressional-investigation-of-dish-time-warner-for-spectrum-hoarding.html


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