Butterfield Commends FCC’s Decision to Expand Spectrum Use
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to allocate 1,200 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, like Wi-Fi:
“The Coronavirus has fundamentally changed the lives of all Americans. As we continue to socially distance to flatten the curve, the urgent need for additional internet bandwidth to support telemedicine, distance education, and the ability to work from home, has never been more important.
“I am pleased the FCC heeded my March 4th recommendation to make 1,200 MHz in the 6GHz band available for unlicensed uses, like Wi-Fi. Hospitals, schools, and local and state governments depend on Wi-Fi to deliver advanced healthcare, education, and public services – especially during this national emergency. There is no doubt that my constituents in both urban and rural parts of my district, and indeed all Americans, will benefit from today’s unanimous decision by the FCC.”
Butterfield has long advocated for making more unlicensed spectrum available to support the over two billion internet-connected devices that depend on Wi-Fi’s use of unlicensed spectrum.
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