White House Adviser Pledges to Protect Spectrum Critical for Wi-Fi

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2025 – A White House economic adviser reaffirmed Monday the administration’s commitment to protecting the 6 GigaHertz (GHz) band for unlicensed use, even as Congress presses federal agencies to free up hundreds of megahertz for auction.

“A number of us in this administration were very intimately involved in designating that band,” said Robin Colwell, deputy director at the White House National Economic Council, speaking at the 2025 SCTE TechExpo. “We fought to get it, and I don't understand why anybody would think we're trying to go back on that now.”

In a conversation with Dave Wright, global policy director for Spectrum for the Future, Colwell tried to quell concerns that arose after explicit protections for the 6 GHz and Citizens Broadband Radio Service bands, included in the House version of the reconciliation bill, were removed in the Senate.

“We fought tooth and nail to get that spectrum, and it was so that we could become the worldwide leader in Wi-Fi,” Colwell said. “You saw the President. We want to maintain our leadership here.”

The legislation, signed into law in July, required 800 megahertz of spectrum for licensed auctions. Colwell said the administration remains committed to an “open” approach to spectrum policy, favoring flexibility over strict carve-outs or protections for certain bands.