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From: John Navas on 28 Jun 2010 10:49
The Obama administration is seeking to nearly double the wireless
communications spectrum available for commercial use over the next 10
years, an effort that could greatly enhance the ability of consumers to
send and receive video and data with smartphones and other hand-held
devices.

President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum on Monday that aims
to make available for auction some 500 megahertz of spectrum that is now
controlled by the federal government and private companies,
administration officials said Sunday. Most of that would be designated
for commercial use in mobile broadband and similar applications, though
aspects of the plan will require Congressional approval.

The effort embraces recommendations made by the Federal Communications
Commission in its National Broadband Plan, which was released in March
and encourages the expansion of high-speed wireless broadband services.

But some aspects could be opposed by television broadcast companies,
which will be asked if they want to give up some of their spectrum for
auction. Cable companies that have invested heavily in wired
telecommunications networks could also lose from the new direction.

Proceeds from the auctions would go in part to finance the construction
of improved communications systems for police, fire and other public
safety agencies. Law enforcement agencies have proposed that parts of
the newly available wireless spectrum be used for a dedicated broadband
public safety network.

Roughly 45 percent of the spectrum to be auctioned would come from
federal government agencies that will be asked to give up allocations
that they are not using or could share, according to administration
officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to upstage
the announcement.

The remainder would come from unused spectrum already scheduled for
auction or from broadcasters and other spectrum licensees who would be
offered incentives to give up or share parts of their communications
airwaves. Currently, the spectrum for wireless communications is about
547 megahertz.

MORE: <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/technology/28broadband.html>
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