Advancing American Wi-Fi Against Foreign Adversaries Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
- Committees
- Foreign Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 4, 2026
Bottom line
The bill requires a strategic plan to defend and promote U.S. leadership in Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum technologies internationally, particularly against adversarial nations at key global conferences.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, to develop a comprehensive plan. This plan will outline how the United States intends to advance and advocate for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies globally, specifically targeting the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27) to be held in Shanghai, China. The plan must also include strategies to counter efforts by foreign adversaries, such as the People's Republic of China, to undermine these technologies.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that maintaining U.S. leadership in Wi-Fi and unlicensed technologies is a national priority, essential for economic growth, education, healthcare, and public safety, contributing over $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. They contend that a unified U.S. strategy is critical to counter efforts by adversaries, like China, who seek to undermine global Wi-Fi momentum and force reliance on untrusted, foreign-controlled infrastructure, especially given the WRC-27 will be held in Shanghai.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that the bill is largely symbolic, duplicating existing efforts by federal agencies to promote U.S. technology interests internationally. Some may contend that explicitly naming adversaries and framing international technology discussions as confrontational could hinder diplomatic efforts and cooperation on global spectrum harmonization, potentially leading to less effective outcomes at forums like WRC-27.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it highly accessible for a reader to understand its core purpose and provisions quickly.
Section 2
Sense of Congress on U.S. Wi-Fi Leadership and Adversarial Threats
This section declares Congress's belief that U.S. leadership in Wi-Fi, 6G, and satellite technologies is a national priority, citing Wi-Fi's significant economic contribution. It emphasizes the importance of advocating for a global system that supports Wi-Fi and highlights the critical need for strategic engagement at World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), particularly WRC-27 in Shanghai, China. The section explicitly states that adversaries, such as China, are pushing spectrum policies to reverse global Wi-Fi momentum and promote reliance on untrusted infrastructure, necessitating a unified U.S. strategy and coalition building.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this 'Sense of Congress' clearly articulates the strategic importance of Wi-Fi and unlicensed technologies to U.S. economic and national security interests. It provides a strong legislative foundation and clear direction for federal agencies to prioritize and aggressively pursue policies that protect U.S. technological leadership against identified foreign threats, especially in critical international forums.
Critics contend
Critics might suggest that while the sentiment is generally agreeable, explicitly naming adversaries in a 'Sense of Congress' could be seen as unnecessarily provocative. They might argue that such strong language, while intended to galvanize action, could complicate diplomatic efforts and make it harder to build broad international coalitions needed for successful outcomes at WRCs.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the need for strong, clear policy direction with the complexities of international diplomacy. It aims to assert U.S. leadership and counter specific threats, but in doing so, it risks potentially escalating tensions with named adversaries, which could complicate efforts to achieve global consensus on spectrum allocation.
Section 3(b)
Mandate for a Plan to Advance Unlicensed Technologies
This section requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, to develop and publicly release a plan within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This plan must detail how the U.S. will promote the global adoption of Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies, including advocating for global harmonization of the 5925-7125 MHz spectrum band. The plan must also include strategies to counter efforts by the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries to undermine these technologies. Public input is required during the plan's development.
Section 3(c)
Report on Plan Implementation Post-WRC-27
This section requires the Assistant Secretary to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within 90 days after the conclusion of WRC-27. The report must describe how the plan developed under subsection (b) was implemented and, if possible, include a mechanism to track its progress. The report is to be unclassified but may include a classified annex.