Federal Communications Commission
INCENTIVE AUCTION IMPLEMENTATION
Bill Lake
Chief, Media Bureau
May 22, 2012
Channel Sharing Workshop
Introduction
2
Incentive Auctions Implementation
What Is Channel Sharing?
“FCC Shares Channel-Sharing Details” TVTechnology, May 1, 2012 www.tvtechnology.com
3“Spectrum Act”
Part of Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, 
signed by the President on February 22
Creates incentive auction authority (ability to share auction 
proceeds)
Consistent with the vision we laid out in our proposal:
– Spectrum contributions will be voluntary
– Three options for contributing are included
• All 6 MHz
• Channel Share
• Move from UHF to VHF
Incentive Auctions Implementation
4Policy Objectives of Channel Sharing
A way for broadcasters to 
– Contribute spectrum to the auction
– Share auction proceeds
– Stay on the air
Channel sharing 
-- Provides a way to help meet our need for spectrum, and 
-- Acknowledges that broadcasting plays an important role in our 
nation’s communication infrastructure
Still many unknowns, including how to incorporate channel sharing into 
the auction design, but that work is underway and will be shared
publicly as part of our forthcoming NPRMs
Incentive Auctions Implementation
5Channel Sharing Order:  The Fundamentals
Channel Sharing Order Released on April 27, 2012.
1. Voluntary arrangements
2. Flexible capacity sharing
3. Channel sharers remain separate FCC licensees
4. Only in connection with the incentive auction at this time
5. Full power and Class A stations
• Licensees
• Applicants and permittees  that have completed facility construction
6. Commercial and NCE stations may channel share
7. Must carry rights preserved
Incentive Auctions Implementation