The Obama administration has announced plans to double the amount of available wireless communications in the next 10 years.

The president is scheduled to sign a memorandum on Monday authorizing the government to auction off 500 megahertz of spectrum, which includes federal and commercial usage.

Revenue from the auctions would be spent on public safety, infrastructure investments and deficit reduction.

The government auction is designed to lessen fears that a spectrum crunch will occur as laptop computers become more popular and new wireless devices hit the market.

National Economic Council director Lawrence H. Summers will explain the new policy in a speech Monday at the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank.

In an excerpt released by the White House, Summers said, "This initiative will catalyze private sector investment, contribute to economic growth and help to create hundreds of thousands of jobs."

The administration said it hopes to encourage the spread of wireless broadband across the country, including rural areas.