Jumpstarting the Unlicensed Internet Economy

New America's Wireless Future Project and the Wireless Innovation Alliance
Thursday, February 16, 2012
2pm

On the eve of the February 17th deadline for the House and Senate conferees to announce their final provisions for the payroll extension package, Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) will join small business owners to urge Congress to protect public access to unlicensed spectrum and provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the flexibility to allow new and innovative technology services the use of unlicensed spectrum. Michael Calabrese, Director of the Wireless Future Program and a Senior Research Fellow with the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative, will moderate the event.

Current estimates indicate that unlicensed spectrum generates $50 billion each year for the U.S. economy. This timely event will explore the critical role unlicensed spectrum plays in the innovation economy, and how these policies should be taken very seriously in consideration of including spectrum policy as part of payroll tax relief. A letter today signed by more than 100 companies, start-ups, trade associations and consumer advocacy groups describes the importance to the economy.

In addition to Reps. Eshoo and Issa, speakers will include Peter Stanforth, Chief Technology Officer for Spectrum Bridge, and Dan Bubb, President of Gorge Networks.

Please RSVP to Rebecca Mark at rmark@glenechogroup.com