The agreement should make it easier for users of laptop computers and other devices to surf the Internet at high speeds without a physical connection, as it resolves a potential conflict with military radar installations that use the same band of spectrum.

The Department of Defense and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration agreed Friday to share the 5 GHz band of spectrum for the two applications, clearing the way for adoption on an international basis at an upcoming radio conference in June.

The deal carves out space for a wireless communications standard called 802.11a, which provides connection speeds of up to 54 megabits per second, about five times faster than the popular "wifi" standard, also known as 802.11b, that has caught on over the past few years.

But the new standard might not catch on, as existing 802.11b users would be forced to buy new networking equipment to work on either or both standards.

Another emerging standard, 802.11g, could eventually prove more popular as it is as fast as 802.11a but also works with existing 802.11b equipment on the same 2.4 GHz frequency.

Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O , for example, announced last month that it would bypass the 802.11a standard in its next generation of networking equipment in favor of 802.11g.

"I am very pleased that the participants from the federal government and the private sector have come to a consensus that satisfies both of their interests," said NTIA head Nancy Victory.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell offered praise as well in a statement released Tuesday.

"The parties are to be commended for their efforts to reach this hard-fought compromise," Powell said.