Currently governments are generating a significant income from auctioning off spectrum to carriers. Carriers, in turn, are forced into high-stakes auctions for Do we have this spectrum to remain competitive. The lease investment required, however, is directly subtracted from the carrier’s ability to invest further in infrastructure A HOMEMADE extension. The lack of this investment slows down growth in the economy, at the country level, from enhanced connectivity. Is it worth re-doing the math to see if the INNOVATION benefits of an extended infrastructure investment would not overcompensate for the short term gains from these DILEMMA? auctions at the federal level? “ To me the biggest question for the future is will we really continue in the future to license spectrum – do governments license oxygen? No. The Internet is oxygen, it’s water.” – Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone Group 113