Advancing American Wi-Fi Against Foreign Adversaries Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9151
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T14:16:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the Department of Commerce to create a national strategy for promoting Wi-Fi and other unlicensed wireless technologies on the global stage. It emphasizes maintaining U.S. leadership in these areas while countering efforts by foreign adversaries, particularly China, at upcoming international spectrum conferences.
Key Provisions
- Sense of Congress: States that U.S. dominance in Wi-Fi, 6G, and satellite technologies is a national priority, notes Wi-Fi’s economic contributions (over $1 trillion annually, projected to reach $2.4 trillion by 2027), and highlights the need for unified U.S. engagement at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) in Shanghai, China.
- Plan Requirement: Within 180 days of enactment, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information must develop and publicly release a plan, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), State Department, U.S. Trade Representative, and other agencies. The plan must promote global use of unlicensed technologies, including harmonization of the 5925–7125 MHz spectrum band for Wi-Fi.
- Public Input and Content: The Assistant Secretary must seek public comments and include strategies to counter actions by the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries that could undermine unlicensed technologies.
- Post-Conference Report: Within 90 days after WRC-27 ends, a report on plan implementation must be submitted to Congress, which may include a classified annex.
- Rule of Construction: Protects classified, privileged, or proprietary information from disclosure.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new statutory requirement for a coordinated federal plan on unlicensed spectrum advocacy. It does not amend existing spectrum statutes but adds specific timelines, coordination mandates, and reporting obligations focused on international forums.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination duties for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), FCC, State Department, and U.S. Trade Representative.
- Citizens and Economy: Aims to protect and expand Wi-Fi’s role in education, healthcare, commerce, and public safety by supporting spectrum policies favorable to U.S. innovation.
- International Relations: Encourages coalition-building with allies ahead of WRC-27 and positions the U.S. to counter spectrum policies advanced by China and other adversaries.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (NTIA, FCC, State Department, U.S. Trade Representative).
- U.S. technology companies, manufacturers, and innovators in Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum.
- Congress (via oversight and reporting).
- International partners and adversaries in spectrum policy negotiations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation operates within existing regulatory frameworks for spectrum management and does not raise apparent constitutional concerns. Politically, it frames spectrum policy as a national security issue tied to competition with China, directing resources toward unified U.S. positions at the International Telecommunication Union.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Advancing American Wi-Fi Against Foreign Adversaries Act — issued 2026-06-04 — PDF (7 pages)