CEA believes that in the 21st century economy, spectrum is the oxygen of innovation. We strongly support legislative efforts to authorize the FCC to conduct voluntary incentive auctions in order to secure 500 MHz of additional spectrum for broadband services and address our looming spectrum shortfall. More, CEA believes that any additional spectrum should be available for both licensed and unlicensed use.

• May 1, 2013 – CEA Press Release: CEA Commends President Obama for Nomination of Tom Wheeler as FCC Chairman

• April 22, 2013 - In his keynote before The Media Institute, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) drew on CEA’s new book Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses to criticize broadcasters for opposing innovation, specifically noting their efforts to impede spectrum auctions. In his remarks, Shapiro urged broadcasters to act like “Ninjas” and “Innovate or Die”. He noted that: “We are concerned that broadcasters seem less enthused about the auctions,” Shapiro said. “In fact, while we were pushing for the law allowing auctions, broadcasters worked tirelessly to thwart its passage, first claiming against all credible evidence that there is no spectrum crisis, and then insisting that a complete spectrum inventory be performed prior to passage of any auction legislation. The legislation passed anyway. Now, broadcasters appear to be employing every possible strategy to slow walk the auctions.” During his remarks, Shapiro also released the results of CEA’s 15th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study, noting that for the first time, the top four products in terms of increased household penetration rates are mobile products that require spectrum.

• March 22, 2013 - CEA Press Release: CEA PRAISES CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI'S LEADERSHIP

• March 20, 2013 - CEA Press Release: CEA SALUTES FCC COMMISSIONER ROBERT MCDOWELL UPON HIS ANNOUNCED DEPARTURE FROM THE FCC

• March 18, 2013 - CEA filed a letter with the FCC regarding the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology's (OET) announcement about it's release of a new TVStudy software to perform interface analyses using the methodology described in its Bulletin No. 69 (OET-69) and NAB's opposition to the FCC's action. One of NAB's three arguments is that the FCC's plan to use new software violates provisions of the Spectrum Act. CEA believes that OET's Public Notice is consistent with the FCC's authority under the Spectrum Act and that it furthers the goal of the statute.

• February 20, 2013 - CEA filed comments in support of the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a Citizens Broadband Service in the 3550-3650 MHz band (“3.5 GHz band”). In its comments, CEA supports the Commission’s exploration of the possibility of spectrum sharing in the 3.5 GHz band. To meet the ever-growing need for more spectrum, however, CEA urged the Commission to remain committed to an “all of the above” approach to deploying new spectrum resources, including the clearing and reallocation of spectrum for exclusive commercial use.

• February 20, 2013 – CEA Press Release: CEA Commends FCC Action to Increase Wi-Fi Deployment

• January 29, 2013 - CEA filed reply comments with the FCC regarding a petition for rulemaking by Globalstar Inc. seeking greater flexibility to use its Big LEO MSS spectrum terrestrially, specifically within the 2.4 GHz band. Because of the potential adverse impacts that the proposed GlobalStar service would have on unlicensed operations, CEA urged the Commission to proceed with caution in evaluating GlobalStar’s petition.

• January 9, 2013 – CEA Press Release: CEA Applauds FCC Effort to Increase Wi-Fi in Locations with Multiple Devices, Users

CEA supports legislative efforts to authorize the FCC to conduct voluntary incentive auctions in order to secure 500 MHz of spectrum for broadband services.

• April 5, 2013 - To help the FCC prepare for upcoming voluntary spectrum incentive auctions, CEA filed comments and reply comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice regarding implementation of new TVStudy software to implement OET Bulletin No. 69, the Longley-Rice Methodology for Evaluating TV Coverage and Interference. CEA believes that the new software is easier to use, more accurate, and more thorough than prior software implementing OET-69. The new software will also assist the Commission in meeting the “all reasonable efforts” statutory criteria for repacking broadcast stations. Before the Commission can preserve coverage and population served, as required by statute, it must first develop an accurate assessment of the area currently covered and the population currently served. The TVStudy software, with its increased accuracy and updated data, makes such an assessment possible.

• March 12, 2013 - CEA filed reply comments pertaining to the FCC’s incentive auction Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”). In its reply, CEA noted that the record in this proceeding already demonstrates an emerging consensus on many important issues, including the need to maximize participation, adopt simple and straightforward rules, balance the interests of all parties, and promote innovation – the same overarching, guiding principles that CEA recommended to ensure the success of the auction.  Among several issues, CEA urged the Commission to work to repurpose at least 120 MHz of spectrum for mobile broadband while maintaining reasonable interference protection for incumbent services, design auction rules that promote the widest possible participation in both the reverse and forward auctions to foster the clearing of as much spectrum as possible, avoid imposing any unnecessary barriers on channel sharing, refrain from restricting reverse auction eligibility except as required by statute, and begin the international coordination process in earnest now.

• January 25, 2013 - CEA filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding voluntary broadcast spectrum auctions. In its comments, CEA urged the FCC to embrace four key principles to ensure a successful broadcast incentive auction: maximize participation, adopt simple and straightforward rules, balance interests of all parties, and promote innovation.

• December 2012 - The FCC has granted an extension for parties to file comments in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement a voluntary spectrum incentive auction of broadcast TV stations. The new filing dates are January 25, 2013 (comments due) and March 12, 2013 (replies due).

We believe that consumers should have the right to attach devices of their choice to broadband networks as well as have unfettered access to content. CEA believes that the government can most effectively address the net neutrality debate by reallocating spectrum for wireless broadband use. This reallocation would ensure rapid broadband deployment and a competitive, pro-consumer broadband marketplace.

CEA supported the release of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan in March 2010. Specifically, CEA commended the FCC’s goals regarding our nation’s spectrum crisis, competition in the marketplace for video devices and accessibility issues. CEA will continue to work closely with the FCC through the rulemaking process to ensure that the goals of the NBP are met.

In today’s fast- changing media landscape, the consumer electronics industry, policymakers and all other stakeholders share a common goal: to protect our children and help them to advance and thrive in today’s digital world. To that end, the CEA’s member companies have developed and continue to provide effective products and product features to help parents structure their children’s television experience. Video providers also offer a broad array of parental control tools. Interested parents can take advantage of this vibrant marketplace to find technological tools and services to tailor their children’s viewing experience to meet their family’s particular needs. Because a myriad of options for parents exist, CEA does not support government-mandated parental control technologies.

CEA has long-supported the ability of consumers to attach the device of their choice to their pay-TV service. In the Telecom Act of 1996, Congress included language to ensure the availability of competitive devices at retail so that consumers could buy a device and attach it to their pay-TV service. The CableCARD was envisioned as a bridge between CE devices and pay-TV services, but this solution has been met with many roadblocks by the cable industry. CEA supported FCC action to strengthen its CableCARD rules. Recognizing the lack of competition in the market for competitive devices, the FCC’s National Broadband Plan recommended that the FCC initiate a proceeding to ensure that a “gateway” device is installed by pay-TV (MVPD) providers in all new subscriber homes and all homes requiring replacement set-top boxes by the end of 2012. The NBP suggested that the gateway device should be simple and that its sole function should only be to “bridge the proprietary or unique elements of the MVPD network.” CEA supports the continued use of CableCARDs and movement toward a gateway device. We must achieve a level playing field for competitive devices.