Broadcasting chief accuses companies of hoarding spectrum

{mosads}Citing press reports, Smith accused unnamed corporations that have “apparently have squatted on large swaths of spectrum rather than building out their networks” of engaging in “warehousing and spectrum speculation.”

Smith called on Matsui and Guthrie to conduct a “fulsome inventory” to determine whether the wireless company claims about a spectrum crisis are valid. He asked, “Are wireless companies simply hoarding spectrum to limit competition?”

Dennis Wharton, NAB’s vice president of communications, said the group “specifically believes companies such as DISH, Time-Warner Cable and others are hoarding spectrum based on public comments made by company executives in published reports.”

— This story was updated at 2:43 p.m. with a statement from NAB.