Reiterating the Success of the Unlicensed 6 GHz Band

June 2, 2025

The Honorable Ted Cruz
Chairman
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Washington DC 20510

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Washington DC 20510

The Honorable Brett Guthrie
Chairman
U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515

The Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr.
Ranking Member
U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515

Dear Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, Chairman Guthrie, and Ranking Member Pallone:

On behalf of the diverse ecosystem of American technology companies and associations that rely on Wi-Fi connectivity, we write to update the committees on the United States’ successful use of the 6 GHz band since it was designated for unlicensed use under the first Trump Administration. American companies are leading Wi-Fi development and helping to ensure United States’ leadership in international competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth. The 6 GHz band constitutes the foundation for Wi-Fi’s continued development and growth, because the band’s characteristics are perfectly suited to indoor networking that is the hallmark of Wi-Fi, while beingflexible enough to support targeted outdoor uses. In locations ranging from small businesses and homes to stadiums, hospitals, schools, wearables, and advanced manufacturing, Wi-Fi is the workhorse of the internet.

Since the Federal Communications Commission opened the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use during PresidentTrump’s first term,¹ enterprises and consumers have been using the band for a wide range of purposes. Shipments of 6 GHz-enabled consumer devices in North America, totaling 95 million last year, are expected to reach nearly 370 million per year by 2029.² Businesses across industries have leveraged the enhanced performance of the latest Wi-Fi standards to improve operations, increase productivity, and deliver better services. From hospitals deploying high-density wireless networks to support telemedicine, to factories leveraging robotics and IoT devices for precision work and data-gathering, to schools and libraries deployingWi-Fi to improve educational experiences, as well as the advanced provision of broadband services broadly throughoutthe United States by providers in rural areas deploying both Wi-Fi and other broadband technologies, the 6 GHz band has become a critical enabler of innovation. Consumers have benefited from 6 GHz unlicensed broadband connections in rural and other underserved areas, and throughout the U.S. via in-home Wi-Fi networks that make the most of thespeed and performance of increasingly fast broadband connections. Indeed, by 2030, most U.S. households will be served by 6 GHz access points utilizing channels as large as 320 megahertz.³ These deployments demonstrate not only robust demand for improved and more capable Wi-Fi, but also Wi-Fi’s ability to coexist successfully with incumbent users, preserving critical operations while unlocking new opportunities.

Wi-Fi is a vital driver of America’s economic strength. A recent study estimates that Wi- Fi technologies, including unlicensed 6 GHz operations, contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, such that by 2027, the annual economic value of Wi-Fi is projected to reach $2.4 trillion, including an estimated $514 billion in consumer benefit, $624 billion in producer surplus, and $1,286 billion in GDP contribution.⁴ Wi-Fi is also projected to support more than 13 million jobs by 2027 and approximately 21 million jobs by 2032, with 6 GHz operations specifically contributing to more than half of those positions.⁵ This impact is expected to grow exponentially as new applications and industriesadopt next-generation technologies powered by the band. Retaining this spectrum for unlicensed use will continue to generate substantial economic value while reinforcing the United States as a global leader in connectivity and technology development.

Looking ahead, the 6 GHz band will play a pivotal role in enabling the technologies of the next decade, including artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, augmented and virtual reality, and other groundbreaking innovations. AI-driven systems, for example, require robust, high-capacity wireless networks to process and transmitmassive amounts of data in real time. Similarly, the future of manufacturing relies on smart factories powered by reliable, low- latency wireless connections to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. The 6 GHz band provides thecritical infrastructure needed to support these advancements, ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront oftechnological progress. Unlicensed spectrum is the foundation for all of these advances as it enables permissionless innovation, unlocking the potential of entrepreneurs to build the solutions of the future, one of America’s strongest competitive advantages globally.⁶ 

As the Congress continues work on advancing the next chapter in spectrum policy, we respectfully urge the Committees to continue support for expanded use of the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use. Thank you for your leadershipand your continued support of policies that ensure the United States’ technological and economic leadership.

Sincerely,

HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

TECHNET

BROADCOM, INC.

WI-FI ALLIANCE

WIFIFORWARD

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COUNCIL

JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.

INNOVATION ECONOMY ALLIANCE

INSTITUTE FOR POLICY INNOVATION

CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION

APPLE INC.

INSTITUTE FOR LIBERTY

CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries

NCTA – The Internet and Television Association

EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

CONSUMER ACTION FOR A STRONG ECONOMY

CoSN – The Consortium for School Networking

DYNAMIC SPECTRUM ALLIANCE

CENTER FOR RURAL STRATEGIES

AMAZON.COM, INC.