iHeartMedia Opposes FCC Upper C-band Cost Catalog
The radio company says the proposed reimbursement plan does not cover broadcasters' costs of transitioning to new satellite spectrum.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Television
iHeartMedia has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission opposing the agency's Preliminary Cost Catalog for reimbursing broadcasters during the Upper C-band transition. The National Association of Broadcasters has also told the FCC that the reimbursement plan falls short for broadcasters.
Why it matters
The FCC plans to auction 160 megahertz of Upper C-band spectrum to clear room for wireless services, and the transition will require many broadcasters to change their satellite equipment. Broadcasters argue that reimbursement must cover the true cost of keeping their services running.
The filings compare the Upper C-band transition against the 2020 Lower C-band transition, which the Preliminary Cost Catalog uses as its baseline, and the FCC has not yet finalized reimbursement amounts. It is not yet known how much of the expected added equipment cost broadcasters will be compensated for.
The players
iHeartMedia
A major American audio company that owns radio stations and operates the Premiere Network, which syndicates programming to thousands of radio affiliates nationwide.
National Association of Broadcasters
A trade association representing American radio and television broadcasters that advocates for the industry before federal regulators and Congress.
Federal Communications Commission
The independent U.S. federal agency that regulates interstate communications and the use of the radio spectrum, including the Upper C-band auction.
The details
Affiliates of Premiere Network, which syndicates about 100 programs and services to more than 8,400 radio affiliates, face equipment changes such as replacing feedhorns with dual-polarization feed assemblies and installing an additional low-noise block converter. The loss of one of three transponders aboard an SES-11 satellite will add equipment costs for incumbent users, and affiliates of Skyview Networks, Westwood One and Learfield face similar challenges.
Timeline
2020: The Lower C-band transition required many broadcasters to replace or modify satellite equipment.
2026: The Upper C-band transition takes place.
July 27, 2027: The FCC plans to complete the auction of 160 megahertz of Upper C-band spectrum.
Precedent Context
The Preliminary Cost Catalog relies on the catalog developed for the 2020 Lower C-band transition, which broadcasters are now using as a baseline for reimbursement. The coming Upper C-band conversion is projected to be far more complex and expensive than that earlier transition.
Broadcasters that receive Upper C-band transition reimbursement will be able to fund new dual-polarization equipment and additional receivers without absorbing the full cost themselves. Radio listeners could see service disruptions if affiliates are slow to complete the equipment changes.
The takeaway
Regulatory reimbursement decisions determine whether broadcasters can keep their programming on the air during spectrum transitions, so the final FCC cost catalog will shape how smoothly the Upper C-band changeover goes.
What happens next
The FCC's July 27, 2027 auction of 160 megahertz of Upper C-band spectrum is the next scheduled milestone in the transition.
Further reading
For more on how spectrum decisions reach viewers, see Television coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio World.
