The Wall Street Journal
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said the agency was looking for ways to make more airwaves available for next-generation wireless networks, underscoring the expanding need sparked by the growing use of iPhones and similar devices.
Speaking Wednesday at an international wireless industry convention in San Diego, Mr. Genachowski called the lack of airwaves available for so-called 4G wireless networks “a looming crisis” that threatened American productivity. He said the FCC would look at how to reallocate airwaves for wireless Internet services and speed up paperwork so new networks could be built faster.
The announcement provided a carrot to the wireless industry, after the FCC announced a broad inquiry into the industry’s business practices and its intention to introduce rules that would prevent carriers from deliberately slowing or blocking some traffic, such as video streaming, on wireless networks and devices. Wireless companies worry that this might affect their ability to manage increasing data traffic on the limited airwaves they control. More…