The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past, and 2025 was transformative for wireless policy. Last year kicked off with a new administration and the 119th Congress, which brought new leadership and energy to Washington, D.C. The ever-evolving technological landscape drove many policy debates, but one thing all policy leaders agreed upon was the importance of wireless to our daily lives.
Wireless innovation and connectivity is not just centerstage in Washington. We’re having these same conversations at home about the faster speed of our cellphone, our access to increasingly reliable service, and the technology that is bringing us everything from new products to better connections at home.
Wireless is also more affordable than ever. Prices dropped 5% in 2025 alone and are nearly 40% lower than they were a decade ago. Strong competition among wireless providers, paired with smart policy in Washington, D.C., is spurring investment and putting real savings back in our pocket. This is a clear win for families and businesses alike, and one we can take confidently into 2026.
Across the policy landscape, it’s clear ACTwireless voices are being heard. Let’s take a look.
Where Spectrum Stands: The Backbone of Wireless
Your voice made a real difference in helping close the digital divide, strengthen our national security, and expanding access to the fast, reliable wireless service Americans rely on every day. ACTwireless advocates sent nearly 20,000 letters calling on Congress to renew the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) ability to auction spectrum, and secure a pipeline of licensed spectrum. Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), mandating an auction of at least 800 MHz of spectrum by 2034. We are using more data than ever, and thanks to you, this victory helps ensure the invisible airwaves that power our devices can keep up.
At the end of 2025 and using the authority from the OBBBA, the FCC moved quickly to push ahead with proposed rules for a spectrum auction in the upper C-Band. This important vote is monumental to boosting capacity, spurring economic growth, jobs and innovation—just one more policy victory powering our ability to stay connected.
Looking Ahead
So where do we stand in 2026? We’re at a pivotal moment and our current wireless ecosystem is facing a capacity crisis. Our national wireless data usage reached record highs last year and the demand continues to grow year over year. This while the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving a surge in data traffic across mobile networks.
Your support of the OBBBA made a huge difference this year, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The momentum to make wireless better is only growing. And it doesn’t stop at the national level.
Be sure to read part two in the series that celebrates the local wireless wins.
