http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040625/pl_nm/telecoms_nextel_congress_dcU.S. communications regulators would be required to auction airwaves that would be used for commercial services, according to legislation introduced on Friday by the House Budget Committee chairman.
The measure comes as Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) Chairman Michael Powell is prepared to propose swapping airwaves with Nextel Communications Inc. to solve some interference problems with public safety communications.
Powell has said he believes the issue could be wrapped up in the next two weeks. Other wireless carriers, like Verizon (news - web sites) Wireless (news - web sites), have complained that they want to bid for the airwaves the FCC (news - web sites) is considering assigning to Nextel.
"The bottom line is that the public owns the airwaves so taxpayers should be the beneficiaries of any spectrum deals," said Rep. Jim Nussle, head of the Budget Committee and an Iowa Republican.
Money raised from wireless license sales goes into the U.S. Treasury which often is used to supplement the federal budget.
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