CEA President Shapiro Plugs Spectrum Auctions as Big Revenue Raiser

Consumer Electronics Association President Gary Shapiro put in a plug for spectrum auctions as a big revenue raiser in a letter to the White House and House and Senate leaders about the debt limit discussions.

The U.S. must raise that limit by Aug. 2 or face defaulting on its financial obligations, sending interest rates climbing and generally doing a number on the slowly recovering economy. Shapiro, pointing out that he is the author of best-seller "The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream," gave the President some policy advice on what the administration could do to create an environment "conducive to entrepreneurism, investment, and innovation" that will have businesses investing and hiring. Number 4. on a list of six suggestions was "allowing the FCC to hold voluntary auctions of our nation's underused spectrum." Shapiro said he recognized he was preaching to the choir with some of his suggestions and "number 4" qualifies since the president has come out in favor of those auctions.