Comcast, Google, Microsoft, Time Warner Cable, the Consumer Electronics Association and other industry stakeholders said they formed WifiForward, a coalition to urge the FCC and Congress to increase the amount of unlicensed spectrum so it’s available for Wi-Fi use. Wi-Fi use is growing 68 percent a year, meaning policymakers will need to open up additional spectrum for unlicensed use in order to avoid a crunch greater than the current congestion being caused “by a deluge of data from more devices, applications and services,” the coalition said Thursday. Analysts said the coalition is likely to have some effect on the policymaking debate around unlicensed spectrum, but immediate change is unlikely.
Read More “WifiForward Coalition to Seek Increased Unlicensed Spectrum from FCC, Congress”
The WifiForward Coalition was launched earlier today in a conference call with reporters. The Coalition includes a variety of private and public sector organizations including the American Library Association, Comcast, Google, Microsoft and several others. More information about the coalition is available at www.wififorward.org.
Read More “SHLB Coalition Pleased to Support WifiForward”
As mobile data traffic continues to skyrocket, Wi-Fi is getting a lot more attention.
On Thursday, cable companies Comcast Corp. , Time Warner Cable Inc. and Charter Communications Inc., along with tech giants Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. , are expected to announce a new coalition to bolster efforts to expand access to Wi-Fi.
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The economic value of unlicensed wireless spectrum in the U.S. could exceed $140 billion, based on estimates derived from independent studies.
That’s the conclusion of a newly released report by Richard Katz, Ph.D., who is Director of Strategy Research at the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information. The report’s release is tied to the introduction of a new industry-supported organization, WiFiForward, which seeks to encourage the liberation of unlicensed over-the-air spectrum for Internet traffic delivery purposes.
Read More “Value of unlicensed spectrum may top $140 billion”
WifiForward Releases Economic Analysis Outlining $222 Billion in Value Added to the U.S. Economy as a Result of Innovation Unleashed by Unlicensed Spectrum
Washington, D.C. – A coalition of companies, organizations and public sector institutions today announced the launch of a new organization, WifiForward, which is calling for policymakers to unleash unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi and other uses, enabling economic growth, creating new jobs and spurring innovation nationwide. Members include the American Library Association, Best Buy, the ARRIS Group, Comcast, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Google, the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Time Warner Cable and Microsoft, among others.
Read More “New Coalition Calls for More Wi-Fi to Boost U.S. Economy”
