2017 Assembly Joint Resolution 100
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: encouraging the use of television white space technology to increase access to the Internet.
Whereas, 34 million Americans do not have access to broadband service at current federal minimum standards; and
Whereas, 23 million rural Americans lack access to broadband, including 1.6 million Americans living on tribal lands; and
Whereas, the unused spectrum between broadcast television stations, known as television white space, represents a valuable opportunity to expand broadband in these areas of the country; and
Whereas, lack of access to broadband Internet means fewer educational and job opportunities as well as poor health outcomes; and
Whereas, television white space technology can deliver high-speed Internet that operates four times faster and reaches 16 times farther than Wi-Fi; and
Whereas, this technology operates at a frequency that can move through objects like hills and foliage; and
Whereas, it is estimated that broadband Internet served on the white space spectrum could reach 80 percent of the rural population that lacks high-speed Internet access today; and
Whereas, television white space technology has been successfully piloted in numerous projects in the United States and abroad; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Assembly are committed to the advancement of television white space technology by ensuring the continued use of at least three channels below 700 MHz on an unlicensed basis in every market in the country, and believe that governmental agencies should focus on collecting data that will help identify opportunities and challenges to delivering broadband Internet to every American.
