"There's a lot more we can do with unlicensed spectrum, it's not just Bluetooth and Wi-Fi," said Issa.
The original House legislation had drawn the ire of consumer advocacy groups who argued that barring the FCC from designating unlicensed spectrum would kill the next generation of unlicensed wireless technology. The media reform group Free Press today expressed relief that Congress had decided to change course when it came to letting the FCC promote unlicensed spectrum.

"Today's news is undeniably good for unlicensed spectrum, a public resource that drives economic growth and spurs technological innovation," said Matt Wood, the action fund policy director for Free Press. "Recent weeks have seen an outpouring of strong bipartisan support for keeping some prime spectrum available for such beneficial uses, if and when the FCC repurposes portions of the TV band."