"I've been working on changing the way we allocate spectrum for a long time, because a smarter system is good for our economy, good for innovation, and vital to keeping our cops, firefighters and EMTs safe," Biden said. "The measure that Congress just passed picks up on many aspects of the President's Wireless Innovation Initiative and will enable new spectrum to be used for innovation, to speed wireless communication, and to fulfill a promise made to first responders after 9/11 that they would have the technology they need to stay safe and do their jobs."

A recent report from Council of Economic Advisers found that the surge in wireless data traffic has created a "spectrum crunch" for wireless providers. The report concluded that expanding wireless broadband will be a boost for the economy because the service supports other innovations in areas such as business, healthcare and entertainment. The report also found that unlicensed spectrum, which any company can use for free, can lead to new innovations and economic growth.