The airwaves that power our smartphones, Wi-Fi routers, smart factories and even hospital equipment are a finite public resource. As the federal government prepares to make more of this wireless spectrum available for commercial use, policymakers face a pivotal question: How can we ensure that spectrum policy serves the public interest in a rapidly evolving digital landscape?
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.
Spectrum consolidation
These developments underscore the urgency of this question. In July, Congress passed the OBBBA, directing federal agencies to auction off 800 megahertz of spectrum to support mobile carriers’ networks. Meanwhile, EchoStar’s decision to exit the race to build a fourth national wireless network – opting instead to sell off its spectrum licenses – coupled with USCellular’s sale of most of its spectrum will further consolidate spectrum holdings among the largest carriers.
These shifts present both opportunities and challenges. Both licensed and unlicensed spectrum are essential: Licensed spectrum enables robust, wide-area mobile networks, while unlicensed spectrum carries the vast majority of traffic and fuels innovation, competition and affordability. Together, they form the foundation of a resilient and inclusive communications ecosystem. While expanding licensed spectrum can enhance mobile capacity and coverage, a forward-looking strategy should also prioritize unlicensed spectrum – the invisible backbone of everyday connectivity.
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.
Keeping up with usage
But as usage grows, so does the risk of congestion. Experts are already warning that without additional unlicensed spectrum, consumers could face slower speeds and diminished performance in the years ahead. Policymakers should act now to identify and allocate new unlicensed bands to ensure continued innovation and connectivity.
To meet the needs of today’s consumers and tomorrow’s technologies, spectrum policymakers need to rigorously and transparently assess how commercial spectrum allocations affect service quality, affordability and access – while prioritizing flexible, innovative models that can keep pace with technological change.
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.
Sally Greenberg is CEO of the National Consumers League. Mary Brown is Executive Director of WifiForward.
Opinions from industry experts, analysts or our editorial staff do not represent the opinions of Fierce Network.
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