The current FCC auctions are auctions of licenses with a renewal expectancy (with no further payment). This approximates a sale of spectrum as opposed to rent or lease. In accounting a sale of an asset is not income that would balance the budget. Rental or lease income is indeed income that would help balance a budget. I believe the government should auction fixed term leases for use of chunks of spectrum. I've written about this at http://sujan.hallikainen.org/ijclp/ijclp_webdoc_6_5_2000.pdf .

Harold