Federal officials this week are expected to finalize a groundbreaking plan to entice some TV stations to give up their valuable airwaves to help address the exploding demand for mobile Internet access.
In turn, the Federal Communications Commission would auction off the rights to those airwaves to providers eager to offer more and faster wireless services.
The goal is to produce winners all around: faster streaming and downloads for data-hungry consumers, more high-quality spectrum for wireless companies, cash for broadcasters from the auction and billions of dollars in licensing fees for the federal government to help reduce the budget deficit.