[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5385-S5386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 3439. A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the 
Administrator of General Services to install Wi-Fi hotspots and 
wireless neutral host systems in all Federal buildings in order to 
improve in-building wireless communications coverage and commercial 
network capacity by offloading wireless traffic onto wireline broadband 
networks; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Warner, to 
reintroduce pro-consumer wireless legislation, which will improve 
wireless coverage indoors. Specifically, the Federal Wi-Net Act would 
require the installation of small wireless base stations, such as 
femtocells or similar technologies, and Wi-Fi hot-spots in all publicly 
accessible Federal buildings to improve wireless coverage and network 
capacity.
  Over the past several years, there has been growing concern about a 
looming spectrum crisis given the significant growth in the wireless 
industry. Currently, there are more than 331 million wireless 
subscribers in the U.S., and American consumers used more than 2.3 
trillion minutes in 2010--that is more than 6.4 billion minutes per 
day. And while the foundation for wireless services has been voice 
communication, more subscribers are utilizing it for broadband. 
According to Cisco, global mobile data traffic grew 159 percent in 
2010, nearly tripling for the third year in a row. That growth is only 
expected to continue--there is expected to be over seven billion mobile 
devices globally by 2015 producing more than six exabytes per month. To 
put it in context, all the words ever spoken by human beings would 
equate to five exabytes worth of data.
  To meet this growing demand, a multi-faceted solution is required 
that includes fostering technological advancement and more robust 
spectrum management. Technologies, such as femtocells, distributed 
antenna system, DAS, and Wi-Fi hotspots, will help alleviate growing 
wireless demand by offloading that traffic onto wireline broadband 
networks. The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 
recently announced plans to open a proceeding on utilizing small cells 
in the 3.5 GHz band. And a recent spectrum report by the President's 
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, PCAST, highlighted how 
reducing cell sizes of wireless networks to femtocell or Wi-Fi ranges 
could provide 400 times as much aggregate network capacity than current 
macro cells network topologies.
  To that point, the need is there--approximately 40 percent of cell 
phone

[[Page S5386]]

calls are made indoors and more than 26 percent of U.S. households have 
``cut-the-cord,'' relying solely on cell phones to make voice calls. On 
the data side, Cisco's Virtual Network Index reports approximately 60 
percent of mobile Internet use is done inside--either at home or at 
work. Consumers are also utilizing Wi-Fi more frequently--more than 80 
percent of smartphone users prefer Wi-Fi connections over cellular for 
mobile data usage, and approximately 75 percent of tablet users use Wi-
Fi connections only. In addition, several new tablets, such as the 
Microsoft Surface, Google Nexus 7, and Samsung Galaxy Tab, were 
introduced as Wi-Fi only versions.
  As the FCC's National Broadband Plan highlights, most smartphones 
sold today have Wi-Fi capabilities to take advantage of the growing 
ubiquity of Wi-Fi routers and devices. According to a May 2011 report 
from comScore, approximately 48 percent of all iPhone traffic was 
transported over Wi-Fi/LAN networks. So installing more mini-base 
stations, such as femtocells, DAS, and Wi-Fi hotspots will improve 
indoor coverage and wireless network capacity. It will also increase 
battery life of phones and tablets since the indoor signal will be 
stronger so devices will use less power.
  The increasing importance of wireless communications and broadband 
has a direct correlation to our nation's competitiveness, economy, and 
national security and therefore demands we make the appropriate changes 
to current spectrum policy and management to avert a spectrum crisis 
and continue to realize the boundless benefits of spectrum-based 
services. Congress has taken some steps but more must be done. That is 
why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator Warner and me in 
supporting this important legislation.
                                 ______