New Law by Trump & Congress May Disrupt Your Wi-Fi
▼ Summary
– The FCC has regained authority to hold spectrum auctions, potentially reallocating Wi-Fi spectrum to mobile carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
– A Senate budget bill proposed auctioning at least 800 MHz of spectrum, including parts of the 6 GHz band used for Wi-Fi, which the House later adopted.
– The new law also allows spectrum to be taken from the CBRS band (3.55–3.7 GHz), impacting rural broadband providers.
– Small ISPs represented by WISPA rely on CBRS and 6 GHz spectrum to deliver broadband to rural and under-resourced communities.
– WISPA warns that tax breaks in the law may be offset by potential spectrum auctions, threatening their services.
A recent legislative change could significantly impact Wi-Fi connectivity across the country, potentially shifting valuable spectrum resources toward major mobile carriers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has regained its authority to conduct spectrum auctions, opening the door for reallocating frequencies currently used by Wi-Fi networks to companies like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
The Senate budget bill, championed by Ted Cruz (R-Texas), initially proposed auctioning at least 800 MHz of spectrum, including portions of the 6 GHz band, a critical resource for next-generation Wi-Fi speeds. Although the House initially sought to protect the entire 6 GHz band from auctions, it ultimately aligned with the Senate’s language in a narrow 218-214 vote. President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4.
Beyond the 6 GHz band, the legislation also permits the FCC to reallocate spectrum from the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), which operates between 3.55 and 3.7 GHz. While other frequency bands could be considered, industry experts argue that meeting the congressional mandate would be nearly impossible without dipping into Wi-Fi or CBRS allocations.
Smaller internet service providers, represented by the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), have raised concerns about the potential fallout. Many of these providers rely on CBRS and 6 GHz spectrum to deliver broadband to rural and underserved areas. While WISPA acknowledges the benefits of new tax incentives in the legislation, it warns that these gains could be overshadowed by the risk of losing essential spectrum access. The group emphasized that auctioning these frequencies could disrupt connectivity for communities already struggling with limited broadband options.
The FCC now faces the challenge of balancing revenue generation with the need to maintain reliable, high-speed internet access, a decision that could reshape the wireless landscape for years to come.
(Source: Ars Technica)
