WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT CHAIRMAN PAI’S PROPOSAL TO ALLOW UNLICENSED USE OF THE 6 GHz BAND Plan Would Increase Mid-Band Spectrum Available to Wi-Fi By Nearly Five-Fold -- Sen. John Thune (SD): “Right now, as we increasingly rely on technology to connect with our loved ones and do our jobs, reliable connectivity is more important than ever. I’ve long encouraged the @FCC to open up more spectrum for Wi-Fi. Excited to see them moving forward on this.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA): “This is a forward-thinking proposal that will increase spectrum for broadband use. More good work from @AjitPaiFCC to expand broadband access to all Americans.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA): “A robust rural economy relies on connectivity and we must bridge this broadband divide. Our farm families deserve connectivity certainty & I applaud Chairman @AjitPaiFCC for his commitment to rural America!” (Tweet, 4/3/2020) Airties: “The addition of 6 GHz Wi-Fi will have a profound impact on consumers and operators alike. Given the state of the world, the importance of Wi-Fi and overall connectivity is more evident than ever before. 6 GHz Wi-Fi brings more spectrum and larger channel bandwidth, which will increase capacity to support even more devices and faster speeds. This is key as more people work from home, and rely on home video conferencing for work, distance learning, telemedicine, and more.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) ALLvanza: “This is a very important step toward ensuring that people living in the U.S. are able to take full advantage of the many crucial resources made available by WiFi and 5G including digital/telehealth resources, reliable remote learning and work from home opportunities.” (Twitter, 4/1/2020) Amazon: “Under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC has made a bold move to expand wireless connectivity by proposing to make the entire 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use. Making this band – all 1200 megahertz – available for unlicensed use is the most significant allocation of unlicensed spectrum to occur in years. … The FCC has taken several steps in recent weeks to ensure Americans remain connected during this public health crisis. We commend Chairman Pai and the FCC for taking steps to expand access to unlicensed spectrum moving forward and ultimately paving the way to a more innovative future. It is what businesses need to operate and what American consumers deserve.” (Op-ed, 4/21/2020) App Association: “We applaud FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the Commissioners for today’s action to allow unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band of spectrum. The FCC’s forward-thinking approach to enable more good use of spectrum will benefit the app economy, our members and the customers they serve, and communities everywhere.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Apple: “We applaud the FCC’s decision to open up the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other uses. It sets the course for the next generation of Wi-Fi networks and will help us to create innovative, new product experiences for our customers.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Aruba Networks: “This new Order … is the single most consequential FCC decision in at least a generation and in some ways eclipses the original 1997 decision. In addition to touching ordinary Americans in a very practical way very soon, its effects will be felt worldwide for decades to come. … The FCC’s leadership both eases the way for and places pressure on every other country to follow in its path. … The United States has served notice to the world that to allocate less spectrum to unlicensed is ultimately to be at a competitive disadvantage. Welcome to the ‘space age” of Wi-Fi.’” (Blog, 4/10/20) ASPIRA Association: “ASPIRA applauds FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and FCC Commissioners for taking important steps to make more unlicensed spectrum available for Wi-FI. Next-gen Wi-Fi is critical to being able to fully realize the benefits of 5G. Consumers, including the Latino community will benefit tremendously.” (Facebook post, 4/1/2020) Atheral: “Spectrum is the lifeblood of the Fixed Wireless Internet Service Provider; they are the entrepreneurs that have built small businesses in the rural communities [where] they live with their own money to provide competitive broadband options. This significant expansion of unlicensed spectrum will ensure that more Americans will benefit from the benefits of the 5G dream[.]” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Belkin International: “In this unprecedented time where connectivity and strong Wi-Fi is more important than ever, people deserve to have latest Wi-Fi speeds, seamless internet connectivity, advanced parental controls and more. … As digital healthcare and usage of telemedicine grows, we want to make sure that patients have the proper network connectivity to support stable, clear video streaming – which can be accomplished with 6 GHz. We applaud Chairman Pai for moving ahead with the 6 GHz order and are committed to delivering the highest ‘next-generation’ performance technology into our products.” (Blog, 4/1/2020) Boingo: “The expansion of Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz band provides exciting new real estate that lays the foundation for continued wireless innovation. The significant swath of contiguous spectrum is well suited to facilitate Wi-Fi’s skyrocketing growth, and will enable Boingo to maximize the benefits of neutral host Wi-Fi 6 deployments at major airports, stadiums, military bases and multifamily communities.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Broadcom: “Today’s announcement by Chairman Ajit Pai that the Commission will vote to open 1,200 MHz of unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz band positions the U.S. to lead the world in next-generation 5G services. All Americans could soon have Wi-Fi in a pristine, wireless superhighway to deliver digitally immersive experiences including in education and telemedicine. … We commend Chairman Ajit Pai and his colleagues for their elegant vision for expanding the use of this critical band to include unlicensed technologies and are excited for the opportunities this presents to shape the next 20 years of our connected world.” (Blog, 4/1/2020) CableLabs: “CableLabs strongly supports the Chairman’s proposal to unleash the next generation of Wi-Fi innovation by making the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed technologies. This proposal will help to ensure that Wi-Fi connectivity keeps pace with the cable industry’s 10G broadband platform. Broadband and Wi-Fi have become even more integral in daily life as Americans have shifted to a new reality of remote work, learning, and health services. Fully enabling the 6 GHz band for these services into the future is an important step for the Commission to take at this time.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Cambium Networks: “[T]he FCC’s decision to advance greater utilization of the U-NII-5 and 7 bands … is a significant event for fixed wireless broadband access. The additional spectrum in the 6 GHz band will bring broadband access to the under-connected across the US, particularly in underserved rural markets. It will also enhance the effectiveness of programs like CAF II and RDOF. As we have all experienced in reacting to the COVID-19 crisis, the need to enable remote learning, work from home initiatives, and telemedicine via broadband access is real and critical to the health of our country.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Center for Individual Freedom: “If it wasn’t clear before, the COVID19 pandemic shows just how critical #WiFi is ... for small businesses, hospitals, schools & so much more. Kudos to @AjitPaiFCC and the @FCC for moving forward on this plan to make the #6GHz band available for unlicensed use.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) CEVA: “We welcome the strong market demand for the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi. This will ensure a better user experience for all Wi-Fi users, providing much needed additional spectrum.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Charter: “With millions of Americans relying on broadband networks to remain connected and productive while practicing social distancing, the need for Wi-Fi sharing in 6 GHz has never been more clear to more people. The FCC’s proposed 6 GHz Order will open up critical resources to improve Wi-Fi performance as workers, students, patients, healthcare providers, and financial institutions rely increasingly on online connectivity.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Cisco: “All of us at Cisco congratulate FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for his leadership in moving forward with a 6 GHz spectrum plan that will be the backbone of American jobs and the economy. Across the country, Wi-Fi networks on unlicensed spectrum are supporting first responders, hospitals, telehealth, remote learning, and remote work at unprecedented levels. Chairman Pai’s decision to unleash the full potential of Wi-Fi alongside 5G could not come at a more important time. We’re excited to help build an internet for the future and look forward to the FCC’s vote.” (Blog, 4/1/2020) Columbia Institute for Tele-Information Director of Business Strategy Research Dr. Raul Katz: “The economic value resulting from allowing unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band will reach a total economic value of $83.06 billion in GDP contribution, $67.78 billion in producer surplus and $2.92 billion in consumer surplus between 2020 and 2025.” (Study, 4/13/2020) CommScope: “CommScope commends Chairman Pai and the FCC for their plans to make the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed operation. Along with initiatives such as CBRS and C-Band, the Commission’s actions are providing the essential mid-band spectrum (licensed, unlicensed, and shared) that enable the U.S. to lead the transition into the 5G era. … This decisive move by the FCC will give Wi-Fi and other unlicensed services the capacity and capability to drive new and innovative applications. The current COVID-19 situation vividly illustrates how a high-bandwidth, high-reliability, highly accessible network is as critical as electricity to survive and thrive in society.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Connect Americans Now: “Connect Americans Now commends Chairman Pai and the FCC for their continued dedication to maximizing spectrum resources for broadband use, including Wi-Fi. Expanding the availability of unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz band for high-bandwidth connectivity will make available the full potential of broadband and Wi-Fi as critical tools for all Americans.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: “The proposal would ensure the spectrum’s current license users could keep their frequencies, while letting unlicensed users fill in the unused gaps between them. By freeing the space for widespread use, the FCC is opening the door to the kind of investment and innovation that will bring 5G speeds to every home and business in the country.” (Op-ed, 4/9/2020) Consumer Technology Association: “Today’s announcement by Chairman Pai is a win for America’s tech innovators and consumers. Unlicensed spectrum empowers the emerging technologies of today – AR/VR, drones, smart cities, artificial intelligence, telehealth – and those ideas yet to be imagined. … The FCC’s announcement comes at an especially critical time, when many Americans are relying on Wi-Fi connections to work remotely and communicate with friends and family.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) CTIconnect: “We are so pleased that the FCC has made this spectrum available to U.S. operators at such a crucial time in our history. Through their efforts, additional access to broadband will make a lasting impact on rural communities.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Discovery Institute: “In what would amount to a five-fold increase in the amount of electromagnetic spectrum available for WiFi and other uses, Chairman Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission is boldly and brilliantly proposing to unleash the entire 6 gigahertz band for shared, unlicensed use. … It’s been 17 years since the commission allocated the 5 GHz band for WiFi, and Chairman Pai is to be commended for acting decisively to supplement that now.” (Blog, 4/20/20) Dynamic Spectrum Alliance: “The addition of 1200 MHz of spectrum for unlicensed use will be a watershed moment for connectivity and innovation. The Chairman’s proposal to enable multiple categories of unlicensed 6 GHz equipment – low power indoor, very low power portable, and standard power devices – will benefit American consumers through innovative services and provide manufacturers the flexibility to design their products in the most cost effective manner.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Engine: “Thanks @AjitPaiFCC and the @FCC for moving forward with plans to open up 1200 MHz in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use! Unlicensed spectrum is invaluable to U.S. startups, and the 6 GHz band will help launch the next-generation of tech innovation.” (Twitter, 4/1/2020) E-vergent: “Consumers will benefit greatly from the FCC’s strong leadership to allocate more unlicensed spectrum. 6 GHz spectrum in the hands of fixed wireless operators will allow rural Americans access to faster Internet service. E-vergent is excited by the possibilities this action creates and what it can do to help close the digital divide in rural America.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Extreme Networks: “Without the power of Wi-Fi, our lives and livelihoods would be at stake. We commend the FCC for moving forward on making 6 GHz available so Wi-Fi can continue delivering its value, especially in uncertain times.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Facebook: “Huge announcement from @AjitPaiFCC on the plan to make 1200 MHz of new spectrum available across 6GHz for #WiFi. This is clearly one the most important wireless announcements in a long time and will redefine the way we understand and use #WiFi and it will be a booster for AR\VR.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy Distinguished Fellow Gigi Sohn: “Now this is how we do communications policy in the public interest! #WiFi 6 will open more opportunities for more Americans to get connected in more places. More of this please @FCC!” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Google: “Good news from @FCC today. Unleashing unlicensed use of 6 GHz spectrum would significantly boost Wi-Fi capability, promote innovation in wireless tech and help Americans connect to distance learning, telehealth & more. We hope the FCC will quickly make this a reality.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Hewlett Packard Enterprises: “The FCC’s bold action to allocate the largest block of mid-band spectrum for unlicensed use builds on its success in creating the Wi-Fi industry and promises to usher in the next era of unconstrained American innovation for the global markets. Through Chairman Pai’s leadership, together with hard work by the other Commissioners and FCC engineers, this order will enable consumers and businesses to collaborate and innovate at the rapid pace of emerging applications and the exponential growth of Wi-Fi connected devices.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) INCOMPAS: “Americans want policy makers to have an ‘all-of-the-above’ plan for better, faster broadband. This includes encouraging more companies to deploy new networks and expanding WiFi by making additional spectrum available for broadband. We support Chairman Pai’s decision today to move forward on a proceeding that could make large swaths of spectrum available for unlicensed broadband use in the 6 GHz band. It’s a move that will improve the internet experience indoors and expand the power of WiFi hotspots in public spaces.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Information Technology Industry Council: “As millions of people around the globe are doing their part to combat coronavirus by staying at home, we’re relying on WiFi connections more than ever. Today’s announcement from the FCC to allocate the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use is critical for supporting the increasing demand for WiFi and to power telework, remote learning, and the networks used by hospitals, industrial facilities, and governments.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Information Technology and Innovation Foundation: “Glad to see @FCC and @AjitPaiFCC moving forward with a big grant of unlicensed spectrum in 6 GHz. Always hard to find the right balance between licensed and unlicensed, but we at ITIF argue for pragmatic spectrum policy—go with what works. It’s time for more unlicensed.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Innovation Defense Foundation: “The FCC’s draft rule to open the 6GHz band to unlicensed uses … will improve Wi-Fi connections, facilitate new 5G service, and provide new opportunities to reach rural and underserved communities. The new proposal represents an almost fivefold increase in the spectrum available for Wi-Fi, an important step for the next wave of innovation.” (Op-ed, 4/9/2020) Innovation Economy Institute: “The bottom line is that … the plan would increase the amount of spectrum available for wi-fi by nearly five-fold, so there is much to cheer about. … Given its experience, the FCC has presented a plan that will allow wi-fi devices to operate alongside the current users of the spectrum band. This is great news as the FCC is doing what can be done to maximize spectrum given current restraints.” (Blog, 4/2/2020) Intel: “Intel commends the FCC for opening the 6 GHz spectrum band for unlicensed operation, which will significantly improve Wi-Fi for all Americans. We deeply appreciate the efforts of FCC staff who have worked tirelessly assessing the complexities associated with the 6 GHz band … Our nation’s reliance on digital connectivity has become more apparent than ever, and this Report and Order will enable significant new capacity, ensuring a solid future growth path for the Wi-Fi ecosystem relied upon by millions of homes and businesses.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) IPpay: “This additional unlicensed spectrum has a monstrous ripple effect to the Fixed Wireless Ecosystem. IPpay, which operates in the Financial Services industry and serves thousands of rural ISPs, will be able to support the growth of Internet providers expanding their operations in this spectrum, as well as their business customers who are finding that they need an unprecedented amount of payment processing and financial services.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) JMZ Communications: “[850] MHz of [standard power] spectrum represents more than double the amount of spectrum that we currently have available … It will be a tremendous leap forward in our ability to service line of sight customers in-town and rural as well as increase availability to faster bandwidth with ever-growing technology!” (Statement, 4/1/2020) LGBT Tech: “Increased access to all kinds of spectrum is key to #LGBTQ communities for #communication, #education, #telehealth and more. We applaud all efforts of the @fcc to bring more spectrum to our community.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Libertas Institute: “@FCC proposal would open up the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed use. The amount of spectrum for Wi-Fi would expand by a factor of 5! @AjitPaiFCC is making sure America is ready for the future of the internet with this proposal.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Lincoln Network: “In a time when we’re all working virtually, it’s great to see @AjitPaiFCC @FCC take action to make more spectrum available for wi-fi.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) LitePoint: “LitePoint applauds the FCC’s decision to move forward with allocating unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz-band for Wi-Fi. In these trying times, as Wi-Fi is rapidly evolving from a nice-to-have technology to being a necessity to keep businesses and students connected from home, the spectrum in the 6 GHz-band will help to unlock Wi-Fi’s true potential by providing more capacity and faster speed.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) MetaLINK Technologies: “The 6 GHz spectrum would be ideal for helping to close the digital divide in rural America where higher Internet speeds are desperately needed for those working and/or studying remotely. Further, as a member on one of the FCC’s Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force working groups, [we] envision that 6 GHz could provide the capacity required for farmers to connect their farms to the Internet, while using other spectrum to exchange a plethora of data gathered from IoT and other devices to further advance the industry.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Microsoft: “Great to see @FCC & @AjitPaiFCC act to open up #6GHz band for unlicensed broadband use – a needed change that can help more Americans telework and learn remotely.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Midco: “The 6 GHz band offers an unprecedented opportunity to increase both the broadband capacity to the home using higher capacity fixed wireless, and Wi-Fi capacity in the home by using wider channels. The 6 GHz is crucial to help companies like Midco close the Digital Divide, because it enables us to deploy Fixed 5G-capable equipment to offer even faster speeds to more customers. … On behalf of the rural communities it serves, Midco thanks Chairman Pai for his leadership in allowing operators an opportunity to use this crucial spectrum to close the Digital Divide.” (Statement, 4/2/2020) Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council: “In supporting the generous full allocation of the 6 GHz ‘Goldilocks’ band for unlicensed use, we hope the FCC’s move will further MMTC’s and the FCC’s shared goal of closing the digital divide. … We believe that the Commission is well-positioned to ensure that full unlicensed use of this spectrum does not harm the operation of those incumbents through innovative spectrum-sharing technologies like those already being used in other bands.” (Letter, 4/3/2020) NCTA—The Internet & Television Association: “We welcome the Commission’s effort to utilize the 6 GHz band to advance the next-generation of superfast Wi-Fi connectivity while protecting existing users. As we work from home, learn at a distance, use telemedicine services, stay informed, and play online, this spectrum band will be critical to delivering high-speed connections that nearly every consumer relies on.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) National Cable Television Cooperative: “This will be a huge benefit to consumers and is one of the most important things that has been done in recent years to support wireless internet service providers in their efforts to provide quality broadband to rural America.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Netgear: “Consumer demand for high-bandwidth applications continues to grow and we are excited about the prospects of adding the 6 GHz clean spectrum to the home wireless network.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute: “Consumer advocates commend the FCC for its pathbreaking spectrum-sharing order. Opening the entire 6 GHz band for low-power, gigabit-fast Wi-Fi in every home, school, and enterprise will accelerate the availability and affordability of next-generation applications and services nationwide. Even the fastest fiber broadband internet service is useless for consumers without the Wi-Fi spectrum needed to connect all of our laptops, tablets, and smartphones.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Next Century Cities: “Chairman Pai’s proposal would help support connectivity nationwide during this national emergency. As more people are asked to work, learn and live from home, this spectrum allocation could decrease congestion on wireless networks and complement wireline connections. It would also provide immediate options for unserved and underserved communities to get online.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) NXP Semiconductors: “Today’s surge in remote working has further accelerated our connectivity needs and driven the expectation of seamlessly working between our offices, homes, and even automobiles. Wi-Fi 6 is the right technology to scale to meet these challenges and future growth when coupled with additional spectrum. NXP supports FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s efforts to make more unlicensed spectrum available and we believe that Wi-Fi 6E can safely and effectively co-exist with both existing and other emerging technologies within the 6GHz band.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) ON Semiconductors: “With availability of the 6 GHz band, new Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure and client devices will emerge, providing consumers even better speed, efficiency and performance in the Home, Enterprise, Automotive and Industrial segments. We anticipate this new spectrum will enable tremendous opportunities for Wi-Fi innovations and economic benefits.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Philips Healthcare: “As Philips works to increase production of critical equipment in the fight against COVID-19 to meet our customer demands for connected monitoring and therapy solutions, it also understands the criticality of Wi-Fi for providing the framework for essential telehealth and other vital health services that are relied on by people around the world. The FCC decision to move forward on 6 GHz is an important step for making unlicensed spectrum available that will be used by patients and practitioners to help deliver even more of these innovative health services, and to ensure Wi-Fi can continue bringing essential services to hospitals and other medical facilities.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Public Knowledge: “We applaud the FCC and Chairman Pai for the decision to help bring the promise of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G to more Americans. … Now more than ever, faster Wi-Fi is a necessity for more Americans as we try to work, learn, and connect with one another from home. The FCC’s action marks a crucial step forward in making faster Wi-Fi a reality, which could soon help more Americans at a time where connection is essential.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Qualcomm: “Qualcomm fully supports the FCC’s plan to allocate the 6 GHz band for unlicensed operations & we applaud Chairman Pai & the commissioners for this initiative to provide Americans with better, faster broadband. … Today’s FCC announcement is an important step to ensure US leadership in key 21st Century enabling technologies.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Rise Broadband: “Rise Broadband applauds the FCC’s effort to make a meaningful portion of 6 GHz spectrum available to deliver broadband services. At a time when more and more rural households are turning to WISPs for broadband, the Order could not be more timely and needed.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Royell Communications: “This … additional spectrum would enable us to overlay our current territory and greatly increase bandwidth to our customers. We look forward to the release of this new spectrum.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Taxpayers Protection Alliance: “The FCC recognizes that rules allowing for the unlicensed use of spectrum are only feasible with strong protections for current, licensed users. … Fortunately, the FCC has a demonstrated track-record of setting well-balanced technical requirements that allow all users to thrive in the digital domain. … The FCC is rightly pursuing a balancing act between licensed and unlicensed spectrum to ensure that as many families and businesses as possible have access to lightning-fast internet.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) TechFreedom: “Grappling with the crisis wrought by COVID-19 has demanded something new and challenging of every American, but one thing is clear: The nation’s connectedness is a source of strength. As we contemplate the needs revealed during this crisis, this means moving to unleash the next generation of Wi-Fi enabled technologies. The next step in that process is for the FCC to allow Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz band.” (Op-ed, 4/1/2020) U.S. Black Chambers: “We support FCC’s action because it is slated to provide improved broadband access and resources to the nation’s three million Black-owned businesses and ignite the power of digital innovation among other underserved business communities across the nation. … [We] anticipate that this proposal will initiate a path forward for underserved Americans to adequately use the internet as a tool for progress through high speed broadband access.” (Letter, 3/27/2020) U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce: “As more businesses and consumers are forced to work, shop, access health care and conduct their daily lives online – especially fast-growing and disproportionately affected Hispanic-owned businesses – expanding the unlicensed spectrum bands that Wi-Fi technologies can access will help to ensure that small businesses can withstand future economic speed bumps, while allowing for continued growth in an increasingly tech-reliant world.” (Op-ed, 4/7/2020) Voices for Innovation: “Another great policy development to close the #broadband digital divide: Today @FCC chair @AjitPaiFCC took actions to allow unlicensed use in the #6GHz band of spectrum.” (Tweet, 4/1/2020) Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: “Broadband demand is surging as more Americans use the internet during the pandemic to shop, stream video, work remotely and consult teledocs. The good news is that the internet is holding up well, and now Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is taking steps to boost Wi-Fi across the country. Mr. Pai … proposed to make 1,200 megahertz of the 6 GHz mid-band spectrum available for unlicensed use. This will effectively increase Wi-Fi spectrum capacity by a factor of five, enabling more inter-operable 5G devices such as smart appliances not to mention faster speeds so Americans can do more things online.” (Editorial, 4/2/2020) Wi-Fi Alliance: “Wi-Fi Alliance commends FCC Chairman Pai on the momentous decision to sustain America’s technological leadership, maximize public benefit of the 6 GHz spectrum resource, and unleash the power of ubiquitous Wi-Fi connectivity by moving ahead with the 6 GHz order. Ensuring necessary unlicensed spectrum access is critical for Wi-Fi, which now more than ever, keeps us connected, supports our communications infrastructure, and delivers major economic benefits.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) WifiForward: “We applaud Chairman Pai for a game-changing plan to unleash much-needed unlicensed spectrum that will support generational innovation while protecting existing users of the spectrum. From multi-gigabit Wi-Fi capabilities on our home networks to low-cost telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, from VR-based training for mining and other dangerous jobs to remote surgery, this spectrum supports the future of Wi-Fi and other innovations we cannot yet comprehend.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) Wi-Fi NOW: “This visionary, courageous, and unprecedented decision – which arguably will be remembered as the signature achievement of Ajit Pai’s FCC chairmanship – is likely to define the future of connectivity in the US and the world for at least the coming decade if not a generation. The new spectrum will seed the ground for a wireless connectivity revolution and reinforce the immense socio-economic value and universal applicability of Wi-Fi technology. Welcome to a new age in connectivity for all Americans.” (Blog, 4/1/2020) Wireless Broadband Association: “The proposed opening of the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi 6 technology will be a game changer for global Wi-Fi. This new band would provide more capacity than all the other Wi-Fi bands put together. If approved, it would prove critical for overcrowding on many Wi-Fi networks, especially in light of the volumes of bandwidth hungry corporate traffic recently pushed onto home networks due to COVID-19. … The proposed release of the 6 GHz band would mean that we can generate multi-gigabit speeds and low-latency connections to deliver advanced mobile services to consumers, business and industry.” (Statement, April 2, 2020) Wireless Internet Service Providers Association: “There has not been a significant release of unlicensed spectrum for two decades, and this new spectrum will provide the rocket fuel to truly enrich and realize the dreams of rural 5G, as well as other wireless innovation yet to be invented. … The Commission has done some groundbreaking work for all Americans in freeing up this valuable, underutilized resource.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) WISPER ISP: “It is great to see how the FCC and WISPs are working together to bring new broadband service to rural Americans. 6 GHz spectrum will foster a whole new range of broadband solutions for our customers. The FCC is very smart to unleash this new potential – it is greatly needed.” (Statement, 4/1/2020) ### Office of Chairman Pai: (202) 418-1000 / Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC / www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).