Wi-Fi is a necessity that touches nearly every part of Americans’ lives. With more than 20 connected devices in the average American home now, and daily activities depending on Wi-Fi, the demand for faster and more reliable connections has never been higher.
Recently, WifiForward hosted an event to celebrate the bipartisan, bicameral Wi-Fi Caucus co-chaired by Senator Pete Ricketts (NE), Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), and Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02). This committed, bipartisan group is an important step toward advancing smarter, more forward-looking Wi-Fi policies. The event also drew participation from key administration officials, including Arielle Roth, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The event, held at NCTA- The Internet & Television Association, brought together Capitol Hill staff, industry leaders, and policy experts to learn more about how Wi-Fi is powering our world and to experience hands-on demonstrations made possible by Wi-Fi. Industry leaders, including Charter, Broadcom, Comcast, and Amazon showcased devices featuring cutting-edge Wi-Fi capabilities, highlighting the real-world impact of these innovations.
Click here to read more about the live demos!
Wi-Fi on Capitol Hill
At the event, the four Caucus Co-Chairs highlighted the importance of Wi-Fi for continued innovation, economic growth, and everyday life for millions of Americans. Together, they emphasized how strong Wi-Fi policy can help ensure reliable, secure connectivity and keep the U.S. at the forefront of wireless technology. Take a look at what the co-chairs said during the event:
“Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury,” said Senator Jacky Rosen (NV). “It’s actually a necessity, and high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, is critical in connecting families. It helps small businesses grow.”
“The mission for the Wi-Fi Caucus is to educate members of Congress on the importance of Wi-Fi,” said Senator Pete Ricketts (NE). “It’s actually critically important…It’s about economic opportunity and innovation… We must continue to lead the innovation, and all this is tied together to national security.”
“The future is today, but we’ve got to do more, and that’s why this Caucus is so important,” said Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05). “We want to make sure it’s [Wi-Fi] out there, and so it’s getting it across the country, and that’s one of the things we want to get better.”
“There are things that members of Congress from different parties are going to have different ideas on, but this is one that we all agree on, the importance of making sure that Wi-Fi is accessible, affordable, state of the art, and available to everyone,” said Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
According to a study conducted by the Brattle Group, Wi-Fi congestion already affects an estimated 17 to 30 million Americans, and without congressional action, another 54 million could face connectivity issues within five years. That would hurt productivity, slow economic growth, and put good-paying jobs at risk.
The message from the Congressional Wi-Fi Caucus event was clear: policymakers and industry leaders need to act now to ensure fast, reliable wireless connections remain available at the rapid speed Wi-Fi is growing.
You can see more from the event here.
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