In a keynote address here at CTIA's Wireless 2012 show, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reiterated the call for shifting more segments of spectrum to wireless carriers to bolster their voice and data networks to manage the proliferating volume of traffic from smartphones and tablets.

"We won't seize the opportunities before us if we don't tackle this capacity challenge," Genachowski says. "The kinds of challenges we have in mobile are the kind we want -- challenges stemming from growing mobile demand."

He added, "I'm sure no one will disagree -- better these challenges than the opposite. Better these challenges than shrinking demand."

Much of the FCC's work in the spectrum area has focused on plans to reallocate commercial licenses, but Genachowski noted that opening government holdings to private-sector use is an important piece of the puzzle.