CTIA praises, Wi-Fi decries 'One Big Beautiful Bill'

CTIA popped the proverbial champagne corks after the Senate narrowly passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," but the Wi-Fi crowd is having none of it, fearing the U.S. government will take away precious Wi-Fi airwaves and put them up for auction. The Senate version of the bill includes many of the same spectrum provisions that the House version addressed. For example, the Federal Communications Commission will get its auction authority reinstated, and the 3.1-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz spectrum bands will be exempt from any auction. But the Senate version designates 800 megahertz to be sold at auction versus 600 megahertz that the House offered, and the Senate, largely thanks to Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), did not include provisions to protect the 6 GHz or CBRS bands. Advocates for unlicensed spectrum say these bands are prime targets for filling the spectrum gap. If the Senate’s language on spectrum prevails, advocates for existing users in the 6 GHz and CBRS bands are gearing up for a fight at the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.