The Feds Have to Act to Get America Faster Wi-Fi

[Commentary] The federal government just needs to pave the way for the next generation of Wi-Fi. More than ever before, consumers are using technologies that rely on “unlicensed spectrum”—that is, public airwaves that the government hasn’t licensed exclusively to a particular company or person—to access the Internet and connect their devices. But here’s the problem. Unlicensed spectrum is becoming a victim of its own success. With consumer demand at an all-time high, the few bands of unlicensed spectrum that we typically rely on are becoming increasingly congested. Unless we take action now, we’ll see slower speeds, dropped connections, and less innovation in the future. A solution to this problem is within our grasp.

The federal government is currently holding spectrum that could be opened up for unlicensed use. In particular, there is a big chunk of spectrum in what is known as the 5 GHz band. But progress hasn’t been fast enough. This is due in part to concerns that allowing unlicensed use of the 5 GHz band could cause harmful interference to car-to-car communications and crash avoidance systems that the automotive industry is developing. Roadway safety is obviously an important concern. But we think there’s a path forward that would protect automotive R&D and allow millions of consumers to benefit from this public resource. Right now, several federal agencies are studying the issue, including the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Transportation. It’s critical that the federal government press forward and open up the band. Because the Internet is increasingly becoming a mobile experience, we should work together to anticipate, rather than catch up with, consumer demand. Doing so will spark innovation and spur economic growth.