The FCC took a “significant step in freeing...

The FCC took a “significant step in freeing up additional spectrum to meet Americans’ unquenchable thirst for mobile broadband service” in approving rules Thursday (CD May 15 p4) for a TV incentive auction, said CTIA Vice President Regulatory Affairs Scott Bergmann on the group’s blog. “The airwaves made available through this auction will fuel infrastructure investment, spur job creation and foster the virtuous cycle of competition and innovation -- benefiting wireless users throughout the country,” Bergmann wrote Monday (http://bit.ly/1vsYupW). “Consumers will experience better, faster and more ubiquitous wireless broadband service.” The auction will help address the expected spectrum crunch, he said: “The latest projections are staggering and demonstrate mobile data’s continued explosive growth -- 360 petabytes per month, equal to 90 million DVDs per month or 992 million text messages per second.”