SUMMARY OF REMARKS OF
COMMISSIONER JESSICA ROSENWORCEL
GSMA: THE MOBILE 360 SERIES—NORTH AMERICA
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
SEPTEMBER 22, 2014
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel delivered remarks on wireless policy today at 
the GSMA Mobile 360 Series—North America conference in Atlanta. The Commissioner 
listed five predictions for the future of wireless communications. 
1. Clearing more federal spectrum will be slow going unless we provide federal 
authorities with incentives to relocate. We need to develop a federal spectrum 
policy that is built on carrots, not sticks.  Across government, we need to consider 
incentives for more efficient use of federal spectrum. These incentives should be 
combined with adjustments to existing laws such as the Miscellaneous Receipts Act 
to streamline our efforts.  Minor tweaks to laws like this could speed transition to 
commercial use by providing updated spectrum for equipment.
2.  We will need to look high and low to find spectrum for next generation wireless 
networks. We must begin to think differently about spectrum and not limit ourselves 
to frequencies between 600 MHz and 3 GHz.
First, we should look low.  We should explore whether spectrum in the 400 MHz
range can be repurposed for mobile broadband use. 
Second, we should look high and take a look at spectrum all the way up in the 
60 GHz or 90 GHz ranges. At these ranges, we can aggregate spectrum to create 
channels hundreds of megahertz wide.  These kinds of broad channels can better 
deliver services like high definition video streaming.
2. Spectrum use will become more efficient if we challenge ourselves.  We need Race 
to the Top, the Spectrum Edition.  We should issue a challenge to find the first person 
that finds a way to make spectrum use below 5 GHz 50 or 100 times more efficient 
over the next decade.  The winner can be rewarded with 10 megahertz of spectrum 
suitable for mobile broadband. The public benefits from the winning idea when it is 
introduced at scale.  But for that one winner, there will be any number of near misses 
that will multiply the benefits across the wireless economy. 
4. Wireless networks will need more Wi-Fi.  Wi-Fi is an essential onramp to the 
Internet with nearly one-half of wireless data connections are now offloaded onto 
unlicensed spectrum. So we should leave behind the tired notion that we face a 
choice between licensed and unlicensed airwaves. Good spectrum policy requires 
both.
5.  The government can better keep up with innovation if it gets an infusion of young 
engineers. The FCC should develop an Honors Engineering Program.