Obama Wants Federal Agencies to Share Wireless Spectrum

Share more of your precious wireless spectrum with private businesses, President Barack Obama told government agencies in a Friday memo.

What's the deal? All wireless communications require spectrum, a government-regulated finite resource that's limited to one larger-scale "user" at a time, like a radio station, cellphone provider or even a local wireless router. As the number and variety of wireless devices continue to skyrocket, the government is scrambling to find novel ways to allow private businesses the access they need to thrive economically while preserving access for public agencies such as NASA and law enforcement.