FCC inches toward reforming airwave auction discounts

By Alina Selyukh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are moving forward with plans to change the rules for government airwaves auctions to prevent big companies from tapping a discount program intended for small businesses, according to an FCC official familiar with the matter. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler on Monday circulated a so-called "public notice" to the rest of the commissioners, seeking further comments on specific proposals for how to reform a bidding discount program that has recently come under fire, the official said. The program rules drew fresh scrutiny earlier this year after two partners of Dish Network Corp received $3 billion of discounts in the FCC's latest auction of wireless spectrum. The issue has taken on added importance as the FCC prepares for what is expected to be its most complex and biggest auction yet in 2016.



via Tech News Headlines - Yahoo News http://ift.tt/1HrT3LZ