do what has happened. i think the announcement does all of that. fcc resources, the fcc has led the >> this has attracted interest from experts. i think that the one thing we need to be sensitive to is cc has the money that it needs to buy the equipment that needs. we would encourage the agency not to be shy. the auction revenue can be used after the fact. software thatild works to have a good auction.

we need to be sensitive about that as well. >> thank you all. i know that my time is up. i just wanted to thank you for mentioning my legislation. i look forward to working with you on this important issue. thank you all for being here. >> let me start with you. we will do another five-minute round. let me ask a follow-up question. you said earlier that broadcasters were not sure about the price or how much money they might get, is that the biggest impediment, or is it the or from their perspective, a lack of clarity about how this will work? senator nelson asked a question about transparency. has not givencc

us information about pricing that is because they have not made up their mind yet. those things that they have decided, they have been tremendously transparent and open. it has been a great experience. they grant you meetings time after time. the process has been very good. nothing is very -- more important to attracting broadcasters then to give them some idea of how much money they will get paid if they give up their spectrum. >> let me ask for a one minute tutorial on the channel sharing concept that you mentioned earlier. tell the committee how that works. stations share a channel? >> they can share a six megahertz channel both broadcast on the same channel. rick and i have a

station in the same city, we might agree that i will turn in it shareum and get from the government. and we will both broadcast out of his tower. the fcc said that if we do that, i need to be able to cover every inch of my city of license from rick haas tower or else i cannot ick's tower or i cannot share with him. serve 85% of my current audience from the sharing tower, that is a problem. to be muched the fcc more flexible. there is an nearing fact that could provide leverage for the commissioner.

engineering fact that could provide leverage for the commissioner. let some of the perimeter channels move into the central antenna farm, you dramatically reduce the number of channels you need to repack and it makes reallocating the spectrum much better. i should say that an hour informal conversation the fcc has shown interest. no formal decision seven made. we are encouraged. there listening to us. >> we would like a one minute or less answer. broadcasters have expressed concerns about booster stations. intend tohe fcc

address those concerns? , ande translators boosters, and the low-power television are important in rural areas. we realize that. congress did not determine that they would not be protected and were not eligible for compensation. we still recognize their importance. there are two ways that we are dressing up. in is to make it clear that we are not seeking to take all of the spectrum. and we are talking to the industry about technical and even favorable rule modifications. >> let me ask you a question. the legislation that we are

working on your says to make all reasonable efforts to protect during the process. earlier standpoint, is the fcc committed to complying with that? >> we are working very closely on that. our hope is that we get to that place. there are some ideas that don't meet that standard. but they are not the final ideas. it is the viewers that matter. treats viewersat whoever remains on the air should get those viewers. have they shown some flexibility to do the repacking? >> yes.

they want to preserve whitespace is very important. which is very important. >> this presents many opportunities. what worries me is that we are dealing with table scraps compared to what is growing. growth ofncredible information being transmitted wirelessly. ahead,ndering, looking if you could help me understand how we in government could do things more efficiently and effectively. specifically, the government is sitting on a tremendous treasure right now.spectrum i believe we should do everything we can to free up everything we can to free up license usages to fuel our

economy and have a ripple effect in tremendous ways, and democratizing forces, in closing the divide, in providing economic growth and more. is vital. we obviously need to preserve that. it has become more and more important. that be needed in crisis situations. i am wondering if there are ways we can be doing a better job and having better efficiencies -- efficiencies. panel, thethe entire aboutr pointed it out freeing up the dod's.

but from what i'm reading, it is taking us a decade to get out there. they are not moving in the speed of decades or years. but month to month there are growing demand. i am curious, even in a formative way, what should we be doing for the next apps to me does urgency and provide that steps to be doing to meet that urgency and flexibility. >> we think that spectrum sharing is the beginning. it has allowed the broadcasters and the military to begin to share spectrum. it can be allowed for more access and commercial use. otherc is looking at the

proceedings. one of the things we need to do is invest in more efficient spectrum of equipment for government. we have suggested a spectrum government where agencies would 0 base their spectrum needs. and they would use more and vance to and flexible -- advanced and flexible technology. >> thank you for your question. it is an important question. you have observed the spectrum that the government has. there are many important government uses that we have to talk about. i agree that sharing is going to be up keys -- going to be a piece of this. think that there are opportunities here to give

licenses for the wireless industry. i being the answer is around incentives. he mentioned a couple of things incentives toning drive more efficient use. i know that there is legislation that is also being considered good it has been a difficult challenge to -- challenge. we want to make sure that they align with what the government needs. smarthing replaces spectrum policy. this is not just a federal government issue. there is a lot of commercial but is not being used today. dish has some using -- sitting on the sidelines. inventory, the federal government is one place to look, but the commercial industry sits on energy disease.

.- it does not use about spectrum inventory and how everyone is using their spectrum is an important issue. we would be happy to participate in that. where a large license is purchased, and if it is purchased in an indian reservation, when i was at the , during theber proceeding, there were a number of tribes they came to us who could not get access. they said they would like to pay for it. but it is not worth the time for the carrier to do that. but there has to be something, a place of the government can step in to do something. we want to get spectrum shared

across the country as effectively as possible. >> i would start in this and call for this auction to reallocate some of the spectrum. some are saying that the fcc should settle for a lower number. given the demand, i think it would be unthinkable for the fcc to go for anything lower than 120 in this proceeding. the alterable amount of -- ultimate amount of spectrum that will be available will ultimately be determined by the users. >> senator? >> this is unprecedented. what do you think is the most challenging thing on this

incentive to have this auction be successful here he -- successful. the fcc has to figure out how to incentivize enough broadcasters to tend to the spectrum. if they don't do that, nothing else matters. the number one factor to influence the broadcaster's decision like anybody else considering selling something they have is the price. somehow government has got to get some pricing information out to the stations. >> that is an important factor but somewhat narrow. it only focuses on the buy side. the chairman mentioned it. we have the get the entire thing right to get work. it is not just an option.

this is never been done before. -- auction. this has never been done before. interfering with the license doesn't do anyone any good. i think that software needs to tested before the order, not the auction. we should not be sitting there in the middle of june trying to figure out if the software works. we need to know if they can do the gymnastics we needed to do, which is very unique. that is incredible. let's make sure we get that right. >> i want to ask you a very sensitive question. if this thing does not go we were, lordd if

major, to having another terrorist disaster, and we had to get spectrum to the government for purposes of national security, does the fcc have imminent domain power that they could go and get spectrum for national security? >> that is really a tough question. it it is not one i am competent to answer. maybe i could try to respond. warcommission has strong powers under the communications act. but there is not a lot of president -- precedent. there are strong powers and certain parts of the communications act. about analking exploratory situation. >> thank you, mr. chairman.

>> thank you. senator booker, do you have any other questions? >> not for this panel. >> thank you. to senator rockefeller for allowing me to chair this meeting. i went to thank you for coming. some had to reschedule because .f ice i know we had a couple of senators who could not remain. they wanted to ask questions. we will submit those for the question. and you could work to get those questions answered as soon as possible, it would be very much appreciated. thank you to senator rockefeller. with that, we will adjourn the meeting. thank you.

[indiscernible] >> thank you very much. we have been in touch and will continue to be in touch. >> if you are a middle or high school student this competition most to know what the important issue is that congress can do it next year? be sure to include c-span programming for your chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. the deadline is january 20. get more info on the website.

marked the one-year anniversary of the sandy hook elementary school shooting in newtown, connecticut. an acknowledgment, president obama and michelle obama lit candles at the white house. each one represents the students were killed at the school. it was followed by a moment of silence.

[silence]

[silence] >> in this weeks address president obama remembers the victims of the sandy hook shooting. he also talks about the health care law. one year ago today we were

shattered by unspeakable violence. parents, as americans, it filled us with grief. newtown is a town like so many of our hometowns. those educators and kids could have been any of our own. our hearts were broken for the families who lost their loved ones. theas changed forever for survivors whose innocence was torn away so soon. these tragedies must end. we must change. in the beginning, our efforts were led by the parents of newtown, men and women, impossibly brave, who stepped forward in hopes that they would spare others their grief. they were joined by millions of americans, sisters and brothers who refused to accept these acts

of violence as somehow inevitable. their voices have sustained us. us toexample has inspired be better and give our children everything they need to face the world without fear. that is a responsibility, not just of families, but at communities. newtown will be remembered. we have not yet done enough to make our communities and countries safer. we have to do more to keep dangerous people from getting their hands on guns. we have to do more to heal troubled minds. we do do everything we can to protect our children and make them feel loved and valued and cared for. as we do, we cannot lose sight of the fact that real change

will not come from washington. it will come the way it always comes, from people, from the american people. stopnation, we cannot every act of violence. we cannot heal every troubled mind. but if we want to live in a country where we can go to work, and go to school, and walk our streets free of fear, we have to do that. we have to keep caring. we had to keep each child -- treat each child by their hours -- like they are ours. together we must and can change. >> these days lots of americans think members of congress don't .are gra there is one instance in which members of congress are feeling the same pain that americans are feeling.

that is with the new health care law. just last week my wife tried to sign up on the health exchange website that was available to us. my wife is a sharp woman. she working computer software. she is also an amazing person and a great mom. ,hen she went on the website she typed in all of the personal information of our three children, and she looked through the various crimes -- plans, and the website tonight or. denied her. she was told when she called for help that the system was down. -- fiasco my wife just that faced is being experienced by americans across the country when they tried to sign up for

health insurance. they are saying it is a computer glitch. it is more than that. as one thirdose might not have insurance coverage at all. information is not always being transmitted to the insurers. can you imagine going to dr. only to find out you are not actually injured -- insured? the president says his team is working out the kinks. but sadly, that is just the tip of the iceberg carrirg. the president told us that if we like the health insurance we have we could keep it. millions of americans are finding out that was not true.

obamacare was designed to cancel out lands that people had and people loved. this is creating excruciating choices. wasman from pennsylvania kicked off of an important insurance plan that works for. it turns out that there are two options. one of the options would let her keep her coverage. the other would pay for medication. neither plan will do both. these are the kinds of painful and unfair choices that millions of people are facing. if you have not been impacted by obamacare, consider yourself fortunate. take the time to listen to your friends, family, and neighbors. they will tell you about less

coverage, higher rates, and lost jobs. it is a disaster for our country. season. is the holiday and we should be in good cheer. the truth is there are good reasons to change direction. there are common sense bipartisan solutions that don't wholesaleamacare's takeover of the system. we can make insurance more affordable and more responsive to individuals and families and put kids and their doctors in charge of health care decisions instead of bureaucrats. i would like to give individuals enjoyed byx benefits employers who are buying the insurance for their employees. businesses small pull together to get quality coverage.

we can rein in medical malpractice. obamacare isn't just a glitch. it is taking away our freedom. the idea that the government should decide what you require and what you should pay let alone what you can afford is a bad idea. put an end to the obamacare lot. americans should be free to choose their health care coverage. they should not be at the mercy of malfunctioning government websites. merry christmas and a happy holiday season to everyone. by americansated cable companies. brought to you as a public service by your television provider.

this week the communicators is on site at the fcc mobile health innovation expo. it is a discussion about the future of health and technology. you will hear from regulators and innovators. theing me at the site of fcc mobile health innovation expo is matt quinn. involved incc these matters? >> one of the ways that we are mhelved is that we had the alth task force say that here are some of the ways that the fcc can provide leadership. we have certification programs. any piece of equipment