The upcoming Broadcast Incentive Auction will, by far, be one of the most complex frequency auctions held to date. In the Reverse Auction, the TV Broacasters which hold Full Power or Class A VHF or UHF licenses are eligible to enter into the auction and bid to either relinquish a license, or voluntarily relocate to a channel within a lower band. 

Based on such input as the current value of a broadcast station, a station's licensed channel, the opening bid as set by the FCC, the competitive environment for the market, and prospective channel sharing parters, NGEN will develop an auction strategy which is specifically tailored to a broadcaster's unique market position and operational characteristics.  Additiionally, in some situations, there may be opportunity for broadcast stations to negotiate with winning Wireless licensees for incentive payments to relocate prior to the FCC allotted 39 months.

With our experience of negotiating with and/or on behalf of every major wireless carrier, NGEN is uniquely qualified to develop an auction and negotiation strategy which optimizes a station's financial return.

NGEN engineers have 50+ years of experience in the design, operation, and optimization of television broadcast systems within the UHF and VHF bands. In order to evaluate all possible strategies in the Broadcast Incentive Auction, it is critical to determine the feasibility and costs associated with both a forced relocation within an existing band (i.e. repacking) and a voluntary relocation to a lower band. NGEN is able to determine these costs and prepare the Broadcast licensee for all possible outcome scenarios in order to evaluate all possible outcome scenarios for the Broadcast Incentive Auction.

As a result of the Broadcast Incentive Auction, Broadcasters will either:

• continue operation at the current channel,
• accept payment in exchange for relinquishing their frequency rights and decommision within 3 months of the auction,
• relinquish frequency rights and implement a channel sharing agreement,
• voluntarily relocate to a channel within a lower band, or
• be forced to relocate to an alternative channel within their current band.

The Broadcaster must be prepared to implement each of these possible outcome scenarios. In the case of the forced relocation as a result of the FCC repacking process, the Broadcaster must present a cost detail to the FCC within 3 months of the auction which includes all costs the Broadcaster will incur for equipment and services associated with the relocation.

NGEN can develop the transition plans for each of these possible outcome scenarios, including a detailed cost estimate for all equipment and services necessary for a potential replacement system.