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Lock your front door or water your plants with a touch of a button from
miles away?
Used to be that was just stuff they did on the Jetson's or in the movies, but not
anymore.
Today, it's the reality of the connected home. Often called the Internet of Things,
connecting everyday objects from kitchen appliances to security systems
through broadband to their mobile devices
allows consumers to track, manage and communicate with these items anywhere
anytime. Many consumers are connecting appliances such as thermostats to their
wireless devices.
They can adjust the temperature from anywhere, saving money on heating and
cooling costs while away
and then adjusting the thermostat for when they plan to be back home.
A "smart" house allows you to control a number of items,
reducing your electricity use, positively impacting the environment
and your wallet. Few know the technology and engineering beyond the
devices that power the Internet of Things. But behind all of that great
connectivity
is spectrum. It's made up of airwaves that we can't see, but
they're the fuel for mobile, television and radio broadcasts, and government
communications among others.
Unfortunately, there's only so much spectrum. That's why as consumers and
businesses increasingly rely on mobile technology,
it's vital that spectrum is put to its highest and best use.
Even though the U.S. is the world's most efficient commercial spectrum user,
the current rate of industry growth and consumer demand for wireless
broadband
will quickly outpace carriers' network capacity. That's why CTIA and our member
companies are
working with the Federal Communications Commission,
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
the Department of Defense, Congress and others to move
inefficient users, so that this valuable spectrum can be sold at auction for
commercial use
An auction will raise billions of dollars for the federal government,
which is certainly a much needed boost without costing American taxpayers a
penny.
The wireless industry is unique for wanting to pay for this valuable resource,
which will in turn eventually help other industries
such as health care, transportation, utilities and education by being better
able to use wireless in their services.
There's not much agreement in Washington these days. But the wireless industry's
need for more spectrum unites government agencies,
elected officials from urban and rural districts and different political
parties
and private companies. In the past, spectrum auctions have proven to be a
win win win for everyone
and in this case, history will assuredly repeat itself.
To learn more about the wireless industry's need for spectrum and the
significant impact more spectrum will have on the U.S. economy,
visit ctia.org.