DALLAS — Frustrations over slow and spotty internet connections could be solved with a plan making its way through Congress, but there’s debate over whether it’s the best path for everyone on those future connections.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Georgia, are leading the push in Congress to reopen Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auctions of a government-owned portion of the wireless spectrum

  • The wireless spectrum only has a finite amount of space on it, and different portions are used for different purposes. That’s where the idea of spectrum sharing comes in

  • During President Donald Trump’s previous administration, the government auctioned off access to a narrow band of their spectrum to be shared with private businesses

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Georgia, are leading the push in Congress to reopen Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auctions of a government-owned portion of the wireless spectrum. That would allow private companies to gain access to that space on the spectrum in certain areas.

The wireless spectrum only has a finite amount of space on it, and different portions are used for different purposes. The expansion of technology through things like AI, automation and growing internet speed needs have created a need for more public space within that spectrum to accommodate that growth and expand connectivity to areas that currently lack it.

That’s where the idea of spectrum sharing comes in.

During President Donald Trump’s previous administration, the government auctioned off access to a narrow band of their spectrum to be shared with private businesses. That was used to expand some coverage networks, including into more rural areas, as well as allow some private businesses like airports and technology companies to establish their own connection networks to better accommodate their needs.

That agreement lapsed in recent years, which leads to this new push to reopen those auctions.

“The technology piece is the easiest piece, it’s agreeing on the terms and conditions of the business,” said Dallas-Fort Worth-based tech expert Jon Schultz.

Schultz said he’s sees a lot of positive results from past spectrum sharing and thinks reopening the offerings could help solve a lot of connectivity issues in the current tech landscape. Even in his own business of connecting golfers to networks and technology while on the course, he said getting that spectrum sharing reopened could make a major difference.

“Cause a lot of our customers are in remote areas, so cellular coverage and Wi-Fi coverage are really limited at best,” said Schultz.

One of the big hangups in the spectrum sharing approach is who those new users would be sharing that space with.

Much of that government-owned portion of the wireless spectrum is currently set aside for groups like the military and Department of Defense, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Experts in that space have warned that opening that portion of the spectrum to others could seriously slow down or create problems in important operations — from the military to things like monitoring and sending out weather alerts.

The FAA even issued a warning during previous spectrum auctioning that ground stops may have to occur because of 5G interference from spectrum sharing.

Schultz believes that’s where a lot of the energy on the spectrum sharing proposals will need to go: making the sharing portion work.

“How do you allow those kinds of things to happen simultaneously, and that’s where I think encrypting data and encrypting the messaging will be key and critical,” said Schultz.

However, he believes a solution will have to be reached on this front, as access needs across the board are only increasing with time.