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."
