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FCC to earn $1.6bn from spectrum
02 February 2010
The Obama administration is setting a new funding proposal to the telecoms regulator, which says it should earn $1.6 billion over the next decade from spectrum auctions
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[FCC]
[spectrum auction]
[licensing]
[airwaves]
[Obama]
The US regulator, the Federal Communications Commission, could receive an estimated $1.6 billion from spectrum auctions between now and 2020, according to a US budget proposal.
The agency and federal politicians plan to take inventory of spectrum being used, to cater to demands of wireless carriers.
The FCC may auction spectrum to companies including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile.
President Barack Obama has submitted a funding proposal of $352.5 million to the FCC for 2011. The budget also seeks to give the agency the authority to establish new spectrum-user fees that could generate an additional $4.8 billion.
The funding would help FCC implement the National Broadband Plan, manage spectrum, revamp data systems, support its public safety and cyber-security work, consumer programs and international projects. The funding will also cater to mandatory increases in salaries and benefits, and inflationary increases for contractual services.
The proposal is subject to approval by the US Congress. Last year, the Obama administration had proposed $4.8 billion in spectrum-user fees over a decade. GTB