FCC Should Be More Flexible About Auction Info, EOBC Says

The FCC must be more flexible about what information broadcasters participating in the auction are allowed to know, the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition said in informal comments posted online in docket 12-268 Friday. Allowing broadcasters access to information such as the current clearing target, whether dynamic reserve pricing is on or off or has been used on any stations would aid broadcaster decisions about the auction, the EOBC said. The FCC should also give broadcasters enough information after each round to allow them to analyze bidding activity “and make informed decisions,” EOBC said. Auction participants can acquire useful information by knowing the bidding activity of their competitors, EOBC said. “Providing this information is standard in any FCC auction and the reverse auction should be no different,” EOBC said.