As airwaves become more crowded with growing demand for mobile web access on smartphones and tablet devices, the FCC recognizes a need to free up more airwaves for wireless networks. The agency proposed reclaiming airwaves from "inefficient" users, such as television broadcasters, and auctioning them off to the highest bidder, sharing some of the proceeds with television stations that volunteer to give up airwaves. While most lawmakers agree with the proposal, industry groups wonder how the free airwaves will be allocated.

The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) has recently ramped up their lobbying to advocate for reallocation of the D Block airwaves to public safety agencies, a top goal of the organization. The White House and Members of Congress have expressed support for D Block allocation in the past, but some Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee say it is more economically viable to auction airwaves to commercial providers.　 The 120 megahertz of spectrum being sought from the broadcasters would increase the amount available for cell phones and other wireless devices by about 22 percent, to 667 megahertz.

Most broadcasters are fearful they would be forced to give up spectrum. FCC Chairman Genachowski has assured broadcasters the auctions would be voluntary. However, Genachowski believes if more spectrum is not made available for wireless broadband networks, the United States would be on the verge of a "spectrum crisis" that could ultimately threaten the nation’s technological leadership and economic growth.