Next in spectrum wars: Broadband for airplanes

In-flight Internet access, once considered a passenger luxury, has turned into a customer requirement. And technology companies are brawling in Washington over who gets to lay claim.

As marketplace opportunities increase, a bandwidth battle once limited to the ground has shifted to the air. “It’s kind of the sky’s the limit on a lot of the options you can provide,” said Travis Christ, chief marketing and sales officer for Row 44, a California-based firm that offers passengers access to live baseball games, CNBC and a host of other networks. The Federal Communications Commission agreed last month to streamline regulations for satellite-based systems, a next frontier in broadband development. But ground-based companies with plans for further advancements want a slice of the shrinking spectrum pie.