Obama's Jobs Act Of 2011: Expanding Access To Broadband Wireless
By Paul Kruczkowski, Editor
The American Jobs Act of 2011, proposed by President Obama on September 8, includes language authorizing the FCC to hold a special auction for additional wireless broadband spectrum. According to the White House fact sheet on the Jobs Act, Obama is calling for a plan to free up spectrum through incentive auctions, with the goals of making high-speed wireless services available to at least 98% of Americans and creating a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety. In addition, he wants these goals to be achieved while also reducing the federal deficit.
The FCC auctions would be incentive-based to encourage the TV broadcasters that currently hold the unused spectrum to participate. Auction proceeds would be shared between the broadcasters that give up the spectrum and the federal government. Obama’s proposal estimates that the auctions could generate $28B in revenue,according to a Reuters report .
In addition to providing much-needed bandwidth for consumer broadband mobile services, the bill also calls for reallocating spectrum to create a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety, recommended by the 9/11 Commission in response to the terrorist attacks in 2001. The “Block D” frequencies –10MHz of bandwidth in the 700MHz band (758 to763 MHz and 788 to 793 MHz) -- have been identified for this purpose. Once the spectrum is reallocated, public safety agencies could build out a dedicated broadband wireless network for use by first responders. Safety officials estimate the cost to build the system at between $10B and $12B.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are working on similar legislation for a dedicated public safety network -- there seems to be much agreement on the need for such infrastructure. However, there is still disagreement on whether the spectrum should be auctioned or allocated, how revenue from auctions should be spent, and how to fund a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety. Regardless of how these issues are ultimately resolved, providing more RF spectrum to the marketplace should provide opportunity for new investment, job growth, and economic activity within the broadband wireless industry.