This is about a tenth, or less, of rivals across the free spectrum which includes the Mail Online and the Guardian, the two biggest English-language newspaper websites.
Furthermore, broadcasters legally undertake to serve the public interest themselves in exchange for free spectrum -- their licenses don't allow them to pass the buck to cable.
Like Wi-Fi, the popular wireless system found in homes, airports and cafés, WiMax can use unlicensed (ie, free) spectrum, making it less expensive to deploy.
The administration emphasized that any new plans to free spectrum should not interfere with "mission-critical capabilities" of military and other government departments.
"When you have free spectrum you have zero cost for that input and no restrictions on who can use the spectrum," said Gregory L. Rosston, the deputy director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
Cellular carriers, many of whom bought their licenses to use the radio spectrum at public auctions, are likely to oppose the proposal, since it would appear to hand the satellite companies free spectrum to compete with them in urban markets.
Spectrum scarcity allowed regulators to induce ITV to supply news, current affairs, documentaries, religion, arts, children's programmes, regional services and education, in exchange for free spectrum and those advertising privileges.
They say that the company is engaging in a naked grab for free spectrum licenses and that other companies should have the chance to acquire the licenses at auction.
Thanks in part to Mr Genachowski's efforts to free spectrum for wireless operators, America has gone from a laggard to a leader in the mobile arena and has pioneered the app economy.
