Obama administration policies exacerbate spectrum exhaust

[Commentary] Given the significant benefits of licensed spectrum to the US economy, why is the Obama Administration making things worse by actively promoting policies that exacerbate spectrum exhaust? Like it or not, the federal government's failure to reallocate more spectrum to commercial providers and its alleged protection of consumers with poorly conceived network neutrality regulations forces providers to respond to demand with price changes. And when mobile broadband prices do rise, will the Administration claim success? It won't, but it is to blame anyway; higher prices are the inevitable consequence of the Administration's actions.

Fortunately, the carriers will try to offset prices increases (their customers don't like them), but they must do so with their hands tied behind their backs. The Obama Administration's spectrum policies, at present, point only to higher prices for mobile broadband services. Consider yourself warned.

[Lawrence Spiwak the president of the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies]