America’s Global Innovation Leadership

The United States’ position as a global leader in spectrum policy has faltered to the point where we have fallen to 13th in global licensed mid-band spectrum, but the 12 GHz bands can resolve that effectively and immediately. By unleashing the upper and lower 12 GHz spectrum bands, American policymakers can more than double the amount of mid-band spectrum available for investment and innovation.

Important industries such as agriculture, auto-manufacturing, and healthcare have begun to rely on a strong connection in order to compete internationally. This has placed America’s 5G network at the center of industrialization and international competition, a strong network is now a necessary precursor for a modern economy.

This lesson is not lost on our competitors either, China has been outpacing US mid-band optimization for years, with no signs of slowing down. Many European nations have surpassed the U.S., with plans for additional allocations in the pipeline. The total economic benefit of unleashing the 12 GHz bands is potentially massive, with estimates placing just the lower band’s value around one trillion dollars.

Restoring US spectrum leadership and empowering our key industries will provide benefits and relief to American consumers as well. Studies have demonstrated that unleashing 12 GHz will increase industry competition, lower the number of base stations required compared to MMWave tech, and increase network speeds.

-Chip Pickering, Co-Chair of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition