The wireless industry is a cornerstone of the American economy, influencing daily life and business operations. As technology advances, the demand for wireless communication has surged, with Americans consuming 100 billion gigabytes of data last year. This reliance on wireless networks highlights their role as critical infrastructure for economic transactions, personal connections, and national security.

The industry’s contributions to economic output and job creation emphasize its importance. Wireless drives economic activity through investments in communication infrastructure and by enabling new services that boost worker productivity. Over the past decade, it has contributed over $5 trillion to GDP and created 3 million jobs in the United States.

Approximately 1.1 GHz of licensed spectrum has supported this growth. However, the industry faces a spectrum deficit that threatens its continued expansion. Projections show wireless operators will need at least 400 MHz of additional spectrum by 2027 to meet US economic demands, a deficit that will continue to grow to over 1400 MHz by 2032. This spectrum is fundamental to:

• Providing continued improvements to mobile service to millions of Americans;
• Improving fixed broadband coverage and penetration via fixed wireless access (FWA);
• Supporting industries that rely on mobile connectivity, such as AI, video streaming, and cutting-edge VR and Ar; and
• Supporting industries that serve the wireless industry, such as construction and electronic maintenance.

All these activities will contribute to the American economy. We estimate each additional 100 MHz of mid-band spectrum to mobile will generate $264 billion of GDP, about 1.5 million new jobs, and about $388 billion in consumer surplus.