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US to hold new mobile spectrum auction
21 February 2012
Congress calls for FCC to conduct mobile broadband spectrum auctions
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The US Congress has sanctioned legislation that would make spectrum available for mobile broadband, with a bill calling for the Federal Communications Commission to auction spectrum for commercial use.
According to the auction plan, some of the spectrum being used by television broadcasters needs to be sold, with a part of the sale proceeds to be used for development of a nationwide network for police, fire and other emergency services.
Julius Genachowski, chairman of FCC said: “Congress has recognised the vital importance of freeing up more spectrum for mobile broadband. Nearly two years ago, the FCC’s National Broadband Plan identified the spectrum crunch as a threat to America’s mobile leadership, and proposed incentive auctions as a key strategy to help meet this challenge.”
Steve Largent, CEO of the US mobile trade association the CTIA, said that the CTIA had been calling for more spectrum “so America’s wireless industry can remain the world’s leader in the deployment of advanced wireless services”.
He added: “Making spectrum available will make it possible for America's wireless carriers to offer consumers better, faster, more ubiquitous wireless broadband service.”
The FCC expects the new spectrum to give rise to a “host of new technologies” including what it called “super wi-fi”. GTB
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