The top official at the Federal Communications Commission is circulating a proposal to his colleagues in order to kick-start a process for freeing up more spectrum for wireless broadband services.
The FCC needs to lay out the ground rules for so-called incentive auctions, which would allow broadcasters to relinquish TV airwaves in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from an auction.
FCC officials told national media they want to schedule the auctions in 2014.
Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the FCC, said a vote on his proposal is scheduled to take place on Sept. 28.
"In freeing up licensed and unlicensed spectrum for wireless broadband, incentive auctions will drive faster speeds, greater capacity, and ubiquitous mobile coverage," he said in a statement Friday.
"The proposal would also free up a significant amount of unlicensed spectrum for innovative WiFi-like uses, and create the first uniform, national low-band unlicensed spectrum in any country," Genachowski added.
In February, President Obama signed into law a bill that grants the FCC authority to hold the auctions, which could raise billons of dollars for the U.S. Treasury.
U.S. wireless carriers including AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been scrambling to meet the skyrocketing demand for wireless broadband services on smartphones and tablet computers by securing spectrum through acquisitions and related deals.
