Give our airwaves some air

[Commentary] Policymakers in Washington agree that more airwaves should be made available for wireless services, but they clash over some important details — for example, how to make the most efficient use of the prime airwaves occupied by TV broadcasters.

There's also a philosophical split over whether to set aside some of these additional airwaves for unlicensed uses, rather than selling them all to the highest bidders. Lawmakers should heed the lessons of history on that front. The experience with Wi-Fi shows that making spectrum available for wireless spurs innovation and broad public benefits, although it's impossible to predict what that innovation will look like or what those benefits will be. The goal of reclaiming spectrum shouldn't be just to amass the largest possible amount of cash for the Treasury. It should be to advance the public interest, including its real but unquantifiable interest in innovation.