A Full Spectrum Future For Wi-Fi

Overview 

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Over 20 years ago, the FCC allocated airwaves in the 5.9 GHz frequency band for a service called DSRC that was supposed to help cars “talk” to infrastructure and each other, alerting drivers if they were going to hit something. But after two decades—an eternity, considering the other automotive safety innovations we’ve seen—DSRC had barely been deployed, meaning this spectrum has been largely unused. Our airwaves are limited and, in our wireless world, many other essential services could take advantage of that spectrum—particularly Wi-Fi.

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Challenge 

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To change the narrative and show policymakers, regulators, press and influencers that Wi-Fi means more than cat videos, that unused airwaves are bad for consumers and that auto safety tech has leapfrogged past the 20-year experiment of DSRC.

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Approach 

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After years of work on the issue, we got word that the FCC would move forward to reallocate the 5.9 GHz band. With less than two weeks’ notice, we secured a venue and assembled top-tier speakers, panelists and guests to create an event that would 1) celebrate Wi-Fi and 2) paint a picture of a future in which Wi-Fi spectrum was abundant.

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Outcome 

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On November 20, 2019, we hosted the event—A Full Spectrum Future: Smart Policy for America’s Airwaves—and, in front of a packed crowd of telecom heavy-hitters and press, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the opening of a proceeding to open these airwaves for Wi-Fi. 

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