Spectrum delay is not an option

From connected cars, to pet-tracking tools, to cutting-edge advances in medical devices, last week's International Consumer Electronics Show was nothing short of dazzling in the diversity of the devices that were on display. Indeed, it seemed the one thing all the new devices shared -- along with the tens of thousands of innovators who came to Las Vegas to see them first-hand -- is a wireless Internet connection. In many ways, mobile technology and wireless connectivity is now the glue that is holding the dynamic centrifuge of American innovation together.

This increasing reliance on the wireless Internet holds great promise, not only for American consumers but also for the American economy. But progress can quickly be stalled -- or even reversed -- unless policymakers move immediately to free-up more mobile spectrum to meet exponentially growing demand.

We've no time to waste. The FCC has warned that unless we act now, spectrum capacity in the U.S. could exceed supply as soon as next year. For Americans, this will mean more than longer downloads and more dropped calls. It will mean missed opportunities, and slower innovation, and slower job growth.

President Obama, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and House and Senate leaders from both parties have all coalesced around the use of voluntary incentive auctions to repurpose broadcast spectrum for mobile. While there has been some progress on spectrum legislation moving through both the House and Senate, the clock is ticking loudly for American wireless consumers. With estimates ranging from 7-10 years to bring the repurposed broadcast spectrum online, and likely even longer to free up unused government airwaves, these are slowly becoming longer-term solutions to an immediate problem.

As the FCC Chairman reminded us in remarks this week, the U.S. leads the world in 4G deployment and mobile usage. But to maintain this position and continue to deliver the vast economic opportunities from continued mobile investment and innovation, bipartisan leadership is needed now more than ever to get the government moving on spectrum auctions. Officials must also get serious about freeing up government spectrum holdings. Delay is not an option.

To provide maximum benefits both for American consumers and the American treasury, any reasonable solution must encourage the open participation by the greatest number of stakeholders, including those who need additional spectrum to meet the growing demands of the 300 million mobile consumers in the U.S.

Now is the time for leadership. Policymakers on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and in the Administration must work together to chart a clear and sustainable path to address the nation's immediate spectrum needs as quickly as possible. Mobile innovation, economic growth and hundreds of millions of mobile consumers can't afford to wait.

Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served in the Clinton Administration as a director on the National Security Council.

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