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FCC makes more spectrum available for high-speed Wi-Fi

Here is a piece of news from the FCC that has a better chance at making everyone happy, not to mention connected.
Written by Rachel King, Contributor
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The Federal Communications Commission has had a lot on its plate lately, from reviewing billion-dollar mergers one after another to trying to rewrite the rules of net neutrality.

Here is a piece of news that has a better chance at making everyone happy -- not to mention connected.

The FCC announced on Monday that it would be expanding the availability of 5 GHz band spectrum for next-generation Wi-Fi networks as well as other "unlicensed uses," translating to spectrum open for innovation.

For end users, this means experiencing speeds of one gigabit per second or more on their connected gadgets.

The announcement is especially notable because it overturns a rule that previously stipulated that this spectrum, powered by Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices, was meant for indoor-use only.

These devices support a variety of applications including Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless home local area networks to connect smart phones, tablets and laptops to the Internet, broadband service to rural areas offered by Wireless Internet Service Providers and off-loading of traffic from commercial cellular wireless networks.

Now, the faster speeds and expanded room for capacity is can be targeted toward frequently high-populated spaces both inside and out, from airports and convention centers to public parks.

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