Airwaves-Auction Proceeds Drop by $11.6 Billion in Budget

The Obama Administration estimated that auctions of airwaves would raise $16.2 billion under its proposed federal budget for the next fiscal year, $11.6 billion less than the year-earlier projection.

The estimate contained in President Barack Obama’s spending proposal tracks with Congressional Budget Office calculations that airwaves auctions included in legislation passed by the House in December would bring in $16.7 billion. This year’s estimate accounted for spending including helping to set up a nationwide communications network for police, firefighters and other emergency workers, said Meg Reilly, a White House spokesman.