TV stations belonging to Spectrum Clearing Alliance have carefull...
TV stations belonging to Spectrum Clearing Alliance have carefully avoided any appearance of “collusion” in violation of antitrust laws, said official of group that’s fighting effort by CTIA to gain 6th delay from FCC in upper 700 MHz auction.…
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In fact, he said, Alliance first approached Dept. of Justice (DoJ) last Dec. to inform agency of its spectrum- clearing efforts and was “working closely with DoJ to ensure that the activities of the Alliance are in full compliance with any relevant antitrust laws,” it said in recent FCC filing. As part of those contacts, Alliance submitted business review letter to Justice on Alliance’s structure. Auction is scheduled June 19, but House last week voted to order FCC to postpone it indefinitely (CD May 8 p1). CTIA told FCC in filing last month that Spectrum Clearing Alliance could raise antitrust concerns. CTIA said “concerted action by a combination of licensees who clearly exercise market power over the disposition of the upper 700 MHz band spectrum” raised antitrust issues and created more uncertainty in band. Spectrum Exchange countered in subsequent filing that CTIA’s effort to keep 700 MHz band “off the market” could be viewed as similar concerted action in wireless industry that would trip antitrust concerns.