The FCC plan also calls for the agency to free up a new, contiguous nationwide spectrum band for use by unlicensed devices. "This would enable innovators to try new ideas to increase spectrum access and efficiency ... and should enable new unlicensed providers to serve rural and underserved communities," the plan said.

But Thomas Lenard, president of free-market think tank the Technology Policy Institute, questioned the need for more unlicensed spectrum

"In my view, the most important part of the plan, if successful, will be the effort to increase the amount of flexibly licensed spectrum available for broadband use," he said. "I am somewhat concerned that the emphasis on freeing spectrum for unlicensed use -- which would not be the most effective or efficient way to ensure growth in broadband availability -- may detract from the effort to increase flexibly licensed spectrum."

The FCC should focus more on looking at government spectrum holdings and identifying other sources of spectrum that could be better used, Lenard added. "This could be an important source of spectrum for mobile broadband as well as an important source of auction revenues," he said.