Obama Unveils National Wireless Broadband Plan

(Wall Street Journal) - President Barack Obama on Thursday unveiled a plan to boost broadband wireless coverage across the US and create a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety.

Obama, in Marquette, Mich., said the plan is part of an effort to speed up the recovery and keep America more competitive.

"To attract the best jobs and newest industries, we've got to out-innovate, out-educate, out-build ... out-hustle the rest of the world," Obama said at Northern Michigan University.

Keeping America competitive is a theme the president has touted in recent weeks. While he has called for increased investments in certain areas -- from clean energy to wireless broadband -- he has said the deficit needs to be cut. Obama's budget will include stepped-up spending in certain areas but overall will cut the deficit by about $400 billion, the administration has said.

The president's wireless broadband plan, which he first discussed during his State of the Union address last month, is expected to reduce the country's deficit by $10 billion through the sale of wireless spectrum to businesses, said Jason Furman, deputy director of the National Economic Council.

The plan is aimed at building on efforts in the private sector to expand wireless coverage. Obama said the goal is to make available high-speed wireless services to at least 98 percent of Americans. He also said the wireless initiative will help boost commerce.

"For our families and businesses, high-speed wireless service is the next train station; the next off-ramp. It's how we'll spark new innovation, new investments, and new jobs," he said.

The plan will be paid for partly through the sale of commercial spectrum, which should generate about $28 billion, the White House said.

Furman said the initiative will include a $5 billion investment from the government, which will be included in Obama's budget proposal, expected to be released Monday. The $5 billion will be used to get wireless access in rural areas.

Asked why the administration was willing to spend $5 billion for what some may see as a luxury, Furman said the proposal overall cuts the deficit and will increase public safety.

Read more: Wall Street Journal