China is Fighting a Global Tech War, and U.S. Spectrum Policy Must Fight Back
Four decades ago, growing up on the eastern plains of Colorado, I thought the string of letters and numbers I recited every time I pressed the talk button on a two-way radio (KIP493 base to KVE697 unit 1) were just part of the fun of checking in with my dad out on the combine. I didn’t realize it was my first lesson in spectrum policy, and I certainly didn’t know a federal agency was licensing those very frequencies.
Today, those same airwaves—our nation’s spectrum—are at the heart of a global competition that will define whether the U.S. leads the next era of technological innovation or cedes the future to China.
Spectrum used to be a technical topic. Now it’s a strategic one. It powers everything from broadband and mobile networks to smart manufacturing, virtual healthcare, national defense, and AI. And the uncomfortable truth is that America is falling behind because our spectrum policy is not keeping pace.
If we want to win global technological and AI leadership, we need a spectrum policy that matches the ambition of our innovators. That begins with an all-of-the-above approach: one that strengthens licensed, shared, and unlicensed bands instead of forcing a zero-sum fight between them. We need policy that expands rather than constrains competition. And critically, we need to protect the one decisive wireless advantage the U.S. has over China: Wi-Fi.
Start with the reality that for most Americans, Wi-Fi is the Internet. The typical household now has more than 20 connected devices, and Wi-Fi carries up to 90% of all U.S. mobile data traffic. It enables school, work, telehealth, streaming, gaming, and small business operations. Unlike licensed cellular networks, Wi-Fi is open to every American and not just customers of a few large carriers.
One pivotal policy decision unlocked Wi-Fi’s potential. In 2020, the Trump administration opened the full 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi use, a single decision that is projected to generate an astounding $9.3 trillion in economic value between 2023 and 2027. That’s trillion with a T, from one policy decision.
China noticed. And Beijing is now working aggressively to block similar Wi-Fi advancements in other countries, steering the world toward heavily licensed 5G/6G systems dominated by Chinese state-backed vendors like Huawei. Weakening global Wi-Fi would weaken the U.S. and strengthen China’s industrial strategy.
The question now is whether Washington will keep the U.S. on the path of open innovation or let China set the rules. To secure our advantage, the U.S. must act on three priorities.
First, we must preserve and expand the spectrum pipeline for next-generation Wi-Fi. The 6 GHz band was the first major new Wi-Fi band in a decade. It cannot be the last. The 7125 MHz to 7250 MHz band is uniquely suited for near-term Wi-Fi advancement and should be prioritized to meet skyrocketing consumer demand.
Second, we must embrace spectrum sharing, which is already delivering results. The FCC’s CBRS band attracted more auction bidders than any previous auction. More than $14 billion in private investment has already flowed into the ecosystem. Active devices have grown more than 200% in three years. CBRS now powers private wireless networks in hospitals, airports, farms, stadiums, schools, and factories. It is one of the clearest examples of American ingenuity delivering practical results.
Third, we must recognize that connectivity is no longer about “cable” or “wireless” as distinct industries. America’s cable providers operate the largest Wi-Fi networks in the country and are now the nation’s fourth-largest mobile wireless competitor. We’ve invested relentlessly in both wired and wireless innovation. A smart, balanced spectrum policy is essential not just for us, but for America’s entire digital economy.
Forty years ago, spectrum connected me to my family on a Colorado farm. Today, it connects our entire economy and our future. We can’t afford to get it wrong and with smart, forward-looking spectrum policy, and we won’t.
Hon. Cory Gardner
President & CEO, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Cory Gardner is a former U.S. Senator and Member of Congress from Colorado who was named President & CEO of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association in September 2025. In this role, Cory leads one of the largest trade associations in Washington, D.C., representing the connectivity and content industries. Cory’s public service began in the Colorado House of Representatives, where he served in leadership before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. After two successful terms in the House, Cory was elected to the United States Senate in 2014, where he served until 2021.
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