It looks like broadcasters could get more breathing room from the specter of government spectrum band-clearing for mobile broadband.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee Wednesday passed the spectrum inventory bill by voice vote with an amendment that lengthens from two to four years the time in which the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications & Information Administration are required to make recommendations to Congress about spectrum reallocation or sharing.

As amended, it also puts more emphasis on looking beyond the broadcast band to other spectrum.