PCIA Commends Senators Rubio, Booker for Introducing Wi-Fi Innovation Act

February 10, 2015 / Alexandria, Virginia,  The head of PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association today commended Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) for introducing bipartisan legislation aimed at allocating greater spectrum use for wireless broadband and bringing leading-edge wireless service to low-income neighborhoods.

“Senators Rubio and Booker should be commended for recognizing that the U.S. faces both an unprecedented ‘wireless data crunch’ and a ‘digital divide’ that puts lower-income Americans at a disadvantage,” said Jonathan Adelstein, PCIA’s President and CEO. “Their Wi-Fi Innovation Act would allocate more spectrum use for the rapidly growing wireless industry while also eliminating barriers to and creating incentives for Wi-Fi deployment in low-income neighborhoods. Senators Rubio and Booker are taking a crucial bipartisan step toward the adoption of policies that will ease the wireless data crunch and help bridge the digital divide,” Adelstein said.

The Rubio-Booker bill directs the FCC to conduct testing to gauge the feasibility of opening the 5850-5925 MHz band to unlicensed use. It also urges that the 5 GHz band be explored for Intelligent Transportation and other “shared” purposes. Finally, it establishes a study aimed at reducing the barriers to Wi-Fi deployment in low-income rural and urban areas and encourages the FCC to evaluate incentives and policies that could enhance wireless adoption.

“The demand for wireless mobile data is continuing to explode. Yes, we need to allocate more spectrum – but that only addresses a fraction of what we need to be doing to spur greater wireless infrastructure deployment. PCIA will continue to work hand-in-glove with Congress, the FCC, and other federal, state, and local policymakers to embrace policies that facilitate the construction and upkeep of a world-class wireless broadband network,” Adelstein said.

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PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association is the principal organization representing the companies that build, design, own and manage telecommunications facilities throughout the world. Its over 200 members include carriers, infrastructure providers, and professional services firms.