A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.
OPINION:
At this year’s SCTE TechExpo, the refrain to the innovation message was clear from policymakers, regulators and industry leaders alike: America’s leadership in technology and innovation depends on protecting the 6 GHz band and ensuring continued, strong support for unlicensed and shared spectrum.
Officials from the White House, Capitol Hill, the Federal Communications Commission and the Commerce Department reaffirmed what many across the innovation ecosystem already know: that unlicensed spectrum, including the 6 GHz band, is the backbone of Wi-Fi innovation and a cornerstone of U.S. economic competitiveness.
“We fought tooth and nail to get that spectrum … and it was so that we could become the worldwide leader in Wi-Fi,” said Robin Colwell, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council. “People come to the United States, and they can’t even believe how well this Wi-Fi works. I don’t understand how anyone could believe we are trying to go back on that now. It worked. We were right.”
That conviction dominated TechExpo, and it also dominates Washington. Arielle Roth, administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, reminded the audience that although licensed spectrum remains vital, “the majority of mobile traffic is actually offloaded onto Wi-Fi.” She added that “we must continue to invest in this important technology. With Wi-Fi, the race has already been won.”
On Capitol Hill, leaders from both parties reinforced similar messages. Sen. Mark R. Warner, Virginia Democrat, warned against weakening protections for 6 GHz. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Republican, underscored the competitive stakes: “We’re not competing with Europe to regulate; we’re competing with China to innovate.”
Ten Republican senators recently wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, emphasizing that the unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band and the Citizens Broadband Radio Service should be left unregulated. A separate congressional letter emphasized the importance of unlicensed Wi-Fi and the CBRS framework, which expanded rural broadband, spurred innovation and delivered billions of dollars in economic value. These same members of Congress voted for the overall reconciliation bill, making spectrum available for auction, but wanted to be clear that the innovation happening in 6 GHz and CBRS should not be disrupted.
FCC commissioners are similarly clear-eyed about the importance of getting spectrum policy right. Commissioner Olivia Trusty called the future of Wi-Fi 7 “really exciting,” noting that the agency’s north star is “putting spectrum to the highest and best use to advance the public interest.” Commissioner Anna Gomez added, “We have plenty of areas where we can collaborate — and spectrum is one of them.”
This shared commitment reflects a simple truth: Sound spectrum policy is an economic imperative. The 6 GHz band alone is projected to generate $1.9 trillion this year, rising to $2.4 trillion by 2027. Across the country, cable broadband providers are integrating 6 GHz Wi-Fi into their networks to deliver faster, more reliable service to tens of millions of households. Businesses are rapidly adopting next-generation Wi-Fi to power innovation and improve productivity.
Protecting 6 GHz, along with other essential spectrum resources such as CBRS, will ensure this progress continues. Without a forward-looking spectrum strategy, the U.S. risks ceding its competitive edge just as emerging technologies such as virtual reality, artificial-intelligence-driven manufacturing and precision agriculture increasingly depend on seamless, high-capacity connectivity.
The takeaway from TechExpo and Washington’s broader conversation is unmistakable: America’s digital infrastructure is working, but protecting 6 GHz Wi-Fi is essential to keeping it that way.
Like Ms. Colwell said, the U.S. “fought tooth and nail” to lead the world on Wi-Fi. Now, policymakers and industry must fight just as hard to preserve that leadership by protecting 6 GHz, advancing smart spectrum policy and ensuring every American has access to the digital tools needed to thrive in a connected world.
• Bartlett Cleland is executive director of the Innovation Economy Alliance.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.