Amidst a once-in-a generation pandemic, our lives have changed dramatically. Over the past few months, millions of Americans have had to readjust and learn how to live, learn and work remotely. Many Americans are also relying on remote consultations with medical professionals from the comfort of their own homes at this time of heightened risk to personal health and wellness.

Photo by the National Cancer Institute

During the COVID-induced lockdown, the Department of Health and Human Services reported a “meteoric rise” in telehealth visits by Americans seeking to receive healthcare at home. The pandemic has revealed a great deal about the extent to which we can use technology to live and work from home. 

We must continue to look ahead and prepare for a future where telehealth services are both affordable and available to all Americans. To create a bright future for these services, citizens across the country must have access to high quality Wi-Fi. That’s why the FCC has taken two important steps in the past year to open up both the 5.9 GHz and the 6 GHz bands of spectrum for shared use by Wi-Fi. 

This move regarding 6 GHz was a great step forward for connecting Americans, as it promises shared use of up to 1,200 MHz of spectrum, but it’s important that a path is cleared for access to the 5.9 GHz band as well. We always say that the only bad spectrum is unused spectrum and the 5.9 band sits almost entirely unused. 

If these two proposals go forward, this would improve Wi-Fi across the country and thus improve telehealth outcomes for all Americans. These proposals are especially important to Americans in rural areas of the country who are at higher risk of leading causes of death and have less access to medical care and Wi-Fi. The 5.9 and 6 GHz bands will help these rural communities stay connected with reliable Internet connections. This is a sure bet for delivering remote healthcare to those who need it most.

As we look forward to the future of healthcare, it is clear that telehealth will be a vital service for those seeking care across the country. In order to ensure that Americans of all locations and backgrounds are able to receive these services without trouble, the FCC must approve the current outstanding proposals and clear a path for gigabit Wi-Fi.