WISPA

Register here: https://bit.ly/41JVb3V Richard Bernhardt

Statement: WISPA Ready for "Speed for BEAD Act" The following statement may be attributed to Matt Mandel, VP of Government Affairs, WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries: Washington, DC, March 6, 2025 – The “Speed for BEAD Act,” introduced by Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), restores the IIJA to the vision Congress passed over three years ago. It reaffirms the IIJA’s core principle of technology neutrality, refocuses efforts on delivering broadband to all Americans, and ensures that funding reaches truly unserved communities. For the past three years, WISPA and its members have urged policymakers to ensure that BEAD remained true to its intent of providing the right tools for each location, avoid wasteful overbuilding in areas already served by reliable broadband, and meaningfully provide small ISPs the opportunity to compete for BEAD grants if they so desired to help bridge the digital divide. The “Speed for BEAD Act” will do just that. WISPA believes this legislation will move BEAD in the right direction, judiciously spending our limited taxpayer dollars to quickly and cost-effectively connect every American.

You know us well for our national and regional events that keep us connected and help shape the future of our growing industry, but you might not be as familiar with how our policy and advocacy work shapes spectrum, regulatory and legislative developments in Washington, DC and in your statehouse.?So, here’s a recent highlight reel of what your membership and attendance have made possible, and how our commitment to delivering value continues through our constant public as well as behind-the-scenes engagement with decisionmakers.?Your membership makes it possible, and our efforts on your behalf continue.?

Register for WISPAMERICA, March 24-27, in OKC: https://lnkd.in/e6hPGzeZ See the agenda: https://lnkd.in/eebbq9AZ

Limited to 50 attendees only. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ef4irRzv #WISPA #Fiber #FixedWireless #Broadband

There are important, positive changes afoot > "David Zumwalt, CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Service Provider’s Association (WISPA), which represents FWA providers, told Fierce in an email that WISPA believes the new leadership at NTIA should make changes to BEAD and bring it back in line with the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), which created the program. “'Many WISPA members are incorporating fiber optic technologies in their networks where it makes sound business and engineering sense to do so,' said Zumwalt. 'But there is nothing in the IIJA that required NTIA to deem any particular type of broadband deployment technology to be a priority.' "Zumwalt also expressed concern that BEAD-funded fiber might overbuild FWA networks, which already deliver 100/20 Mbps broadband." https://lnkd.in/egh32vdS Linda Hardesty #ISPs #NTIA #BEAD #Broadband

WISPAMERICA OKC: https://lnkd.in/eebbq9AZ Thursday, March 27 Agenda 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM · Adv Tech – Harnessing GIS For Smarter Network Planning and Operations · Bis – Cybersecurity and Compliance: Safeguarding Your Business And Building Trust · Fiber – The Last Mile Matters: Fiber Installation Best Practices · Reg – Important FCC And Other Federal Agency Cybersecurity Proceedings 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM · Keynote – The Room Where It Happens: How the New Administration and Congress Will Impact Your Business 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM · HANDS ON – Trainings open to all with a WISPAMERICA full conference or Wed/Thurs badge o Session – Tower Climbers o Session – Fiber o Session – Installers

There have been reports of severe tornado activity/damage in Texas and Louisiana. If anyone hears of WISPs having issues there, please let us know.

The Senate's move underscores “the needed conversation we must have on our various universal service deployment programs,” said WISPA Director of Communications Mike Wendy. “So that they are less wasteful [as well as] tech-neutral/connectivity-agnostic, more targeted and more inclusive of smaller providers.” https://lnkd.in/exRtkkQx Masha Abarinova Fierce Network #UniversalService #FCC #Broadband

Register for #WISPAMERICA OKC: https://lnkd.in/emyZ6aVp See what we've got cookin': https://lnkd.in/eebbq9AZ Book your stay: https://lnkd.in/efidhk5M #WISPA #Broadband #Fiber #FWA #Spectrum