On February 10, 2015, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Wi-Fi Innovation Act (S. 424) in the U.S. Senate and Congressmen Bob Latta (R-OH), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced a companion bill of the same name (H.R. 821) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bills seek to expand unlicensed spectrum use, and direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) to conduct tests within the 5 GHz band to determine if spectrum can be shared without interfering with current users. The legislation also creates a study to examine the barriers to Wi-Fi deployment in low-income areas. The bills have been referred to the appropriate committees of jurisdiction in each chamber for consideration. Similar bills were introduced in the 113th Congress, but did not receive further consideration.
