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CCA President Says Pausing Incentive Auction Would Violate Law

Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry said the FCC should ignore a letter by Max Media CEO Gene Loving seeking a pause of the TV incentive auction and a rethink of the auction rules (see 1701120059). “Many people in Washington…

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have quipped that election season is ‘silly season,’ but this recent letter from the CEO of Max Media proves that ‘silly season’ is not quite over,” Berry said in a statement. “The FCC should take Gene Loving’s request for what it truly is -- a ridiculous stall tactic in an attempt to distract policymakers from getting more mobile broadband services to consumer, and as such, the FCC should reject the request without hesitation.” The kind of delay Loving proposes would “violate the law, counter congressional intent and negatively impact auction participants who have spent countless hours and resources planning auction strategies,” Berry said. Thanks for letting me know "I'm part of the continuing 'silly season,'' Loving said in an emailed response. It would cost about $10 billion to close the auction now, new figures show (see 1701130077).