Minnesota Public Radio reports…

Tuesday was the deadline for TV stations to apply to have the broadcast frequencies they use sold at auction at the end of March.

The FCC would buy the frequencies and resell them to wireless companies that need more bandwidth. The television stations would then move their transmissions to less desirable frequencies or drop out of the broadcast business entirely.

We don’t know which TV stations in Minnesota have applied, because the FCC is keeping that confidential but a representative from the Minnesota Broadcasters Association thought there were probably a lot.

The auction will open the opportunity for wireless providers to buy spectrum for expansion. (And for TV stations to make money.)