Coalition of lobbying and industry groups sent a letter in support of the pending Wi-Fi Innovation Act
WASHINGTON – Telecommunications lobbying groups want federal lawmakers to open up unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band to create more capacity for Wi-Fi.
In an open letter to Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), a coalition of interest groups including the Competitive Carriers Association and the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, among others, asks the politicians to direct the Federal Communications Commission to open up more spectrum for Wi-Fi.
From the letter: “Technologies that rely on unlicensed spectrum are integral to our economy, contributing billions of dollars to our [gross domestic product] and generating even more in economic value. More unlicensed spectrum is critical for economic growth and innovation. Consumers and businesses need access to more unlicensed spectrum to meet the demand for critically important uses like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and to enable new markets and technologies.”
This effort supports the Wi-Fi Innovation Act of 2015, which was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in February but has languished in committee hearings.
Among the key provisions of the bill is opening up portions of the 5 GHz band, which is “well-positioned to connect our devices in densely populated, potentially congested urban areas and in stadiums, workplaces, campuses, and other places with high wireless traffic today. As the FCC and Congress have recognized,” according to the letter.
“The next step is for the FCC to open the 5.9 GHz portion of the band – so that consumers, businesses, libraries and schools will realize the full potential of “Gigabit Wi-Fi”. That is why we write to express our support for the Wi-Fi Innovation Act of 2015 …
“This legislation directs the FCC to explore making the upper part of the 5 GHz frequency band available for unlicensed use, paving the way for Wi-Fi at gigabit speeds using the latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac. Making this spectrum available for use by Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies would spur innovation, add value to the U.S. economy and help fulfill our nation’s goals of ubiquitous, affordable broadband access.”
CCA President and CEO Steven K. Berry said in a statement that passage of the Wi-Fi Innovation Act would be good for consumers and communications service providers.
“Consumer demand on networks is exponentially growing,” Berry said. “Opening the 5 GHz band for use by Wi-Fi and other emerging unlicensed technologies would allow consumers access to the services they desperately need and want, while at the same time benefitting the economy and spurring innovation. It is a win-win-win scenario.”
