• The Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:50 AM

Federal regulators are considering taking back some airwaves from television broadcasters and auctioning them off to wireless companies that want to add new wireless Internet services. FCC officials are focusing on the portion of the airwaves set aside for digital TV broadcasts.

"The record is very clear that we're facing a looming spectrum gap," says Blair Levin, a former telecom analyst who is in charge of crafting the FCC's national broadband plan. The plan, which is due in February, will lay out various ways to increase broadband availability and usage.

Some broadcast-station owners are already expressing concern about the idea of shifting airwaves. They want to keep those airwaves for themselves. Many broadcasters would like wireless phones and other gadgets to come equipped with receivers that would allow consumers to watch digital TV. The National Association of Broadcasters says it opposes any FCC choices that "limit consumer access to the full potential of digital broadcasting."

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