TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Measure to Expand Airwave Auction Authority Advances: The Senate Commerce Committee narrowly approved a measure that would raise $15 billion over the next seven years by expanding the government’s authority to auction the airwaves. The measure would, among other things, require the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of auctioning licenses for a new TV technology that offers digital TV pictures and CD-quality sound. The agency had previously planned to give broadcasters the second channels for free. The FCC would have to complete the study within six months, a process that critics said would further delay the long-awaited technology.