Mobile Technology and Spectrum Policy: Innovation and Competition

This report traces the current and possible future evolution of mobile communications networks and some of the changes in spectrum policy that might better accommodate innovation. Congress at present is engaged in debates over how to maximize the value-economic, monetary, or other-of upcoming auctions for spectrum licenses, notably the Broadcast Incentive Auction required by the Spectrum Act in 2012 (P.L. 112-96, Title VI). The evolution of wireless technologies, as outlined in this report,...