FCC launches online database of licenses

The majority of licenses are for personal use or safety, while land mobile radios also make up a significant share. Broadband and broadcast providers come next, with Sprint Nextel, Clearwire, AT&T and Verizon among the leading licensees.

“The launch of FCC License View is a clear indication that the FCC is leveraging valuable experience inside the agency and converting that into valuable assets for the public to use,” said Greg Elin, chief data officer at the FCC. “This tool improves public access to these databases, while giving citizen developers and government agencies — including the FCC — a powerful way to make their work more efficient, effective, and transparent.”

The new tool is part of the FCC’s reboot of its website in an effort to provide more user-friendly applications. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski and managing director Steve VanRoekel first announced the package of developer tools at the Gov 2.0 Summit in Washington last week.