Title: WIFI STUDy Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Wireless Internet Focus on Innovation in Spectrum Technology for Unlicensed Deployment Act or the WIFI STUDy Act
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study: (1) the role of unlicensed spectrum in the development of the proliferation of Internet-connected devices and in managing Internet protocol traffic on licensed wireless networks, (2) the economic benefits that WiFi provides in assisting with Internet traffic management, and (3) the potential avenues and barriers to broad deployment of gigabit WiFi service in spectrum bands below 6 gigahertz at a scale that allows for rapid expanded use of new consumer devices.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4813 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4813

  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
    study to evaluate the role of unlicensed spectrum in offloading 
               broadband traffic, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 17, 2018

 Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
    study to evaluate the role of unlicensed spectrum in offloading 
               broadband traffic, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wireless Internet Focus on 
Innovation in Spectrum Technology for Unlicensed Deployment Act'' or 
the ``WIFI STUDy Act''.

SEC. 2. GAO STUDY ON THE ROLE OF UNLICENSED SPECTRUM IN OFFLOADING 
              BROADBAND TRAFFIC.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall initiate a study of--
            (1) the role that unlicensed spectrum plays in the 
        development of the proliferation of Internet-connected devices;
            (2) the role of unlicensed spectrum in managing Internet 
        protocol traffic on licensed wireless or other broadband 
        networks;
            (3) the economic benefits to providers and subscribers that 
        WiFi provides in assisting with Internet traffic management; 
        and
            (4) the potential avenues for, and barriers to, broad 
        deployment of gigabit WiFi service in spectrum bands below 6 
        gigahertz at a scale that allows for rapid expanded use of new 
        consumer devices.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after initiating the study 
required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the study that sets forth the findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations, if any, of the study.
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