FCC's broadband coordinator warns of spectrum shortage

The U.S. faces an urgent problem in a looming spectrum shortage, Blair Levin, executive director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative for the Federal Communications Commission, told SuperCOMM attendees. Unlike past administrations, which had cleared spectrum available for auction or distribution, President Obama took office facing the task of clearing spectrum already in use in order to satisfy new wireless demand. Mobile broadband is going to be the biggest driver of growth and changes in processes at a Congressional level, Levin said. But if the US doesn't get more spectrum, it will become the Doug Flutie of mobile broadband, Levin joked. Flutie, a great football player never made it big in the US based on his 5'10'' height. "For spectrum, there may be technology that changes some things, but the demand is just so great," Levin said. It has to overcome its "height" limitations. AT&T's problems with the iPhone taxing capacity will soon become every carrier's problem as demand for smartphones really takes off, he said. "I hope policy makers understand the seriousness of it," Levin said, adding that it can't be fixed over night, since it takes six to 13 years to clear spectrum. Any long-term plan needs to start now, Levin said. Levin's broadband task force is crafting policy recommendations due to Congress in mid-February, including provisions for spectrum reform.