FCC Nears Opening Some Airwaves for Cheaper Wireless Use

The Wall Street Journal (online registration required): Federal regulators are one step closer to unlocking a large swath of airwaves that could be used to deliver much cheaper wireless service.

Traditionally, wireless carriers have paid billions of dollars at auctions for licenses that give them exclusive rights to use airwaves for voice and mobile Internet service. Now the Federal Communications Commission is proposing a new approach for airwaves at the 3.5 gigahertz band: a sharing system that would allow some users to access the airwaves for free, similar to Wi-Fi, while others could buy exclusive licenses in small areas on a short-term basis.

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