Broadcasters could end up paying if they don't give up spectrum

A closer look by Broadcast Engineering into President Obama's 2012 budget has revealed this interesting nugget: Broadcasters who don't take the carrot and give up their spectrum for FCC auction and wireless reallocation could get hit with user fees that could add up to $4.8 billion through 2021.

These types of spectrum taxes have been suggested before, "but this is the first time it has been officially specified," the article said.

The FCC, at the behest of the administration, has been trying to wring spectrum from broadcasters and give it to next-generation broadband wireless providers as part of a national broadband plan. The spectrum, which the broadcasters received for free from the government, could raise in the neighborhood of $33 billion, some sources say.

For more:
- Broadcast Engineering has this story 

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