“A local television station in a major city, with annual revenues measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, may hold a spectrum band valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” Summers said. “New technologies now can support more than one high-quality signal in a space that previously only could fit one, enabling multiple stations to share a band of spectrum and free up an equal amount for other purposes.”

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“We appreciate FCC assurances that further reclamation of broadcast television spectrum will be completely voluntary, and we’re convinced that America can have both the finest broadband and broadcasting system in the world without jeopardizing the future of free and local TV service to tens of millions of viewers,” said Dennis Wharton, vice president of the National Association of Broadcasters. “We also believe the first priority of Congress ought to be passage of spectrum inventory legislation that identifies fallow spectrum or companies that may be ‘warehousing’ the airwaves.”

Finally, auction proceeds will be used to promote public safety, job-creation investment, and deficit reduction. Though the actual amount will depend on implementation and other design details, many analysts believe the potential revenue could reach tens of billions of dollars. Such investments will include a next-generation interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety, high-speed rail, and the Smart Grid.

“The capital expenditures associated with developing 4G networks will generate significant job creation,” Summers said. “Each dollar invested in wireless deployment is estimated to result in as much as $7 to $10 higher GDP. With major American wireless firms spending $10 billion and rising on these efforts, the benefits for job creation and job improvement are likely to be substantial.”

“In order to achieve mobile wireless broadband’s full potential, we need an environment where innovation thrives, and where new capabilities also are secure, trustworthy, and provide appropriate safeguards for users’ privacy. These characteristics will continue to be important to the adoption of mobile wireless broadband,” Obama said. “This new era in global technology leadership will only happen if there is adequate spectrum available to support the forthcoming myriad of wireless devices, networks, and applications that can drive the new economy.”

CTIA—The Wireless Industry Organization

National Association of Broadcasters

The White House