White House Gets Specific -- and Potentially Some New Critics -- on Telecom Policy

President Barack Obama waded into a handful of telecom battles that he had previously sidestepped when he released the American Jobs Act. The White House had long endorsed general spectrum proposals in what amounted to a broad vision on communications issues. It had called on Congress to authorize a program to sell off spectrum--persuading broadcasters and others to put some of their frequencies on the auction block--and to give public safety agencies both the airwaves, known as the D-block--and funding for an emergency communications network. But the Administration never prescribed a way forward on these proposals, opting to let lawmakers squabble over the specifics.

The American Jobs Act represents the White House's first foray into the nitty-gritty of telecom legislation.

It could be particularly messy that the White House offered legislative language on incentive auctions, and the move could turn some telecom allies into critics.
Incentive auctions would free up airwaves for mobile broadband by repurposing TV spectrum to wireless companies. TV stations would be offered a cut of the revenue as an incentive to go out of business, and the government would get some cash for deficit reduction as well. The White House’s high-level stance on the auctions won wide backing from tech and wireless companies. But companies may become less uniformly thrilled with the White House now that it has offered specifics.