Update: Reverse Auction Workshop Set for November 17

Further evidence that the Broadcasting Incentive Auction is ramping up, and fast: the Commission has announced that it will be conducting a three-hour workshop devoted to the reverse auction process on November 17, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Representatives of the Incentive Auction Task Force, the Wireless Bureau and the Media Bureau will take attendees through a wide range of useful auction information covering the "pre-auction process and guidance on how to complete and submit the Form 177, including an overview of ownership requirements, channel sharing agreements, and the red light rule". Exactly how they plan to cram all that into three short hours isn't clear, but what the heck.

The confab is going to be held in the Commission Meeting Room at the Portals in D.C. It's free, but seating will be limited, so you might want to get there early. The Commission recommends that you shoot to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start time "to allow time to go through the security process for admission to FCC Headquarters" - but we suggest that you allow even more time than that. You can streamline the check-in process by pre-registering (submit your name and company affiliation to auction1001@fcc.gov, with the subject line "Reverse Auction Workshop").

Can't make it to Washington that day? No problem - the workshop will be live-streamed at www.fcc.gov/live. Remote attendees will be able to email questions in through auction1001@fcc.gov. The gig will also be recorded for later viewing on the FCC's website.

The Incentive Auction is going to be an extraordinarily complex undertaking, with lots of moving parts. Any broadcaster planning on participating in the reverse auction component would be extremely well-advised to attend the workshop - and be prepared to take good notes.