WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to today's deadline for television broadcasters to indicate their interest in participating in the broadcast spectrum incentive auction, the following statement can be attributed to NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton:

WASHINGTON – Proposals by the pay-TV industry that would restrict television broadcasters’ ability to fairly negotiate retransmission consent fall outside the Federal Commission Commission’s (FCC) limited legal authority and would provide no benefit to consumers, said the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in reply comments submitted today. Only by quickly closing its proceeding examining the “totality of circumstances” of what constitutes “good faith” retransmission consent negotiations will the FCC help viewers, NAB said in its filing.