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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

March 21 , 2012
Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov

STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON

THE INCENTIVE AUCTION TASK FORCE

“I’m very pleased to announce the formation of an Incentive Auction Task Force, and that Ruth Milkman
has already begun to manage the Task Force and our implementation of incentive auctions on an interim
basis.
“Implementing incentive auction authority involves most of the Bureaus and Offices at the agency. The
same was true of the work to develop the incentive auction concept as part of our National Broadband
Plan, and to provide expert support to Congress as it worked to pass the legislation.
“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the hard work and dedication of the FCC staff, present and former,
who have worked on the incentive auction concept. And I’d like to thank – in advance – FCC staff who
are working and will work on implementation.
“Incentive auctions are a big idea. The concept, of course, which we developed in our National
Broadband Plan, is to deploy market forces and a market-based mechanism to repurpose spectrum for
flexible use, including mobile broadband.
“But there’s no doubt that the task ahead will be complex and challenging. Incentive auctions are
unprecedented. The legislation, at over 100 pages, raises many difficult issues.
“I’m confident our staff is up to the challenge. What we’ll see is an implementation process that will be
inclusive and participatory; that will be guided by the economics and the engineering; and that will seek
to maximize the opportunity to unleash investment and innovation, benefit consumers, drive economic
growth, and enhance our global competitiveness. When the incentive auction of the TV bands is
complete, we expect to have a healthy broadcast sector, and a strong, robust, competitive, and world-
leading mobile industry.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to Ruth Milkman for taking on this task.
“Ruth is well known and respected for her deep knowledge and experience, strong management skills,
and fairmindedness. The Task Force represents the full range of talent and expertise at the agency,
including Rick Kaplan and Bill Lake, the leaders of our Wireless Telecommunications and Media
Bureaus; Julie Knapp, the head of our Office of Engineering and Technology, our Chief Economist
Marius Schwartz and our Chief Technologist Henning Schulzrinne, our General Counsel Austin Schlick
and others. Thanks to each of you and your terrific teams, thank you again Ruth, and we look forward to
hearing more from the team as the work progresses.”
-FCC-

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