WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama signed a memorandum Monday permitting the auction of 500 megahertz of the wireless communication spectrum for U.S. commerce.
A memorandum nearly doubles the spectrum available to commercial uses, with 45 percent of the portion to be auctioned coming from government agencies that have been asked to give up portions of the spectrum, the White House said in a statement.
The Obama administration said auctions would take place over a 10-year span and spur innovation, create jobs and provide revenue for investment in public safety and infrastructure.
Moreover, making more of the broadband spectrum would eliminate the threat of a "spectrum crunch," the White House said.
"In recent years, the amount of information flowing over some wireless networks has grown at over 250 percent per year, with some estimates indicating that the next five years will see an increase in wireless data of between 20 and 45 times 2009 levels," the statement said.
