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The future of fast Wi-Fi may be in jeopardy as a proposed Senate budget bill threatens to auction off unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz band. Supported by former President Donald Trump, the legislation would permit the FCC to auction this critical spectrum to mobile carriers, potentially degrading Wi-Fi performance for millions of users.

The 6 GHz band is a cornerstone for Wi-Fi 6E and the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 standards, enabling significantly faster speeds and enhanced reliability. Devices such as iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, MacBooks, and a wide array of smart home gadgets leverage this spectrum for optimal performance. Reallocating it to mobile carriers could result in slower speeds and increased congestion for these devices.

Industry stakeholders, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, Apple, Amazon, and Meta, are actively lobbying senators to preserve the unlicensed status of the 6 GHz band. They argue that it is crucial for supporting emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality, which depend on robust and reliable wireless connectivity.