ICYMI: WifiForward and National Consumers League Leaders Urge Consumer-First Spectrum Policy in New Fierce Network Op-Ed

Washington, DC — In a new opinion piece published in Fierce Network, WifiForward Executive Director Mary Brown and CEO of the National Consumers League, Sally Greenberg, argue that U.S. spectrum policy must prioritize the public interest by identifying and allocating new unlicensed bands.

 In the piece entitled, Put Consumers at the Center of Spectrum Policy, the pair highlight that wireless spectrum is a finite public resource that powers smartphones, homes, schools, hospitals, and other smart technologies, and that, ultimately, belongs to the American people.  As a result, policymakers should prioritize affordability, competition, and connectivity in allocation decisions.

Check out some key quotes from the piece below:

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• “Wi-Fi carries between 80% and 90% of all smartphone traffic, according to OpenSignal. It powers the growing array of connected devices in our homes and workplaces. It helps rural wireless providers serve communities that may be overlooked by national carriers. And it supports competition by giving smaller players and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) the tools to offer consumers affordable alternatives. Against this backdrop, federal policymakers must take care not to tilt the balance of spectrum policy away from these public-interest benefits. Decisions now underway will shape whether spectrum allocation promotes competition and connectivity – or picks winners and losers among market players.”

• “The 2020 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to open the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use is projected to generate $1.2 trillion in economic value by 2027. Nearly 300 million 6 GHz-enabled devices have already shipped across North America, and adoption is accelerating. Even major wireless carriers have embraced the band, incorporating it into their home broadband services and using it to offload their mobile traffic.” 

• “Ultimately, spectrum belongs to the American public. The measure of success should not be how much spectrum any one company or industry segment controls, but how well Americans are connected to opportunity, to information, and to each other – both now and in the future.”