Obama jobs bill includes spectrum reform

The American Jobs Act, which President Obama announced before a joint session of Congress Thursday, includes a proposal to auction spectrum and to set aside spectrum for a nationwide public safety network.

The provisions are part of an effort to expand wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans and spur innovation, according to a White House fact sheet about the bill.

An interoperable public-safety network has been a top goal for first-responders since communication problems hampered their response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has sought to pass the public-safety network into law by the 10th anniversary of the attacks next week.

According to the fact sheet, the broadband proposal will cost $10 billion, but the price will be offset by incentive auctions of spectrum.

The White House estimates it will raise $28 billion through the auctions. 

The auctions are likely aimed at encouraging television broadcasters to give up their spectrum to make more room for wireless broadband. Broadcasters have resisted incentive auction proposals unless they include protections to ensure the auctions are entirely voluntary.

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