WISPA Achievements for Our Industry

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.? Ask us how you can get involved in shaping our next highlight reel!

Access to Spectrum

·?????? Drove Development of CBRS Band – Key voice in creating the CBRS band, with 70-megahertz of county-based PALs and 80-megahertz of licensed-by-rule GAA.? During the 2020 auction, not all PALs were sold, leaving some counties where more than 80-megahertz of GAA spectrum is available.?

·?????? Increased the CBRS Spectrum Pie – With the sunset of 50-megahertz in the 3.65 GHz band, ISPs can now access up to 100-megahertz more spectrum in the new band than they had in 2015. ?

·?????? Led Efforts on Spectrum Sharing – Key voice at the table with FCC, NTIA and DoD on spectrum sharing.

·?????? Kept 37 GHz out of Auctions – Helped FCC create 37.0-37.6 GHz band, licensed-by-rule regime instead of auction.

·?????? Secured Secondary Market Reforms – Led FCC to improve secondary market rules for spectrum leases and assignments.

·?????? Propelled 6 GHZ Advances – Spearheaded release of 850-megahertz of 6 GHz band spectrum for standard power, outdoor unlicensed use.?

·?????? Spearheaded 5.9 GHz STA’s – Helped FCC release 45-megahertz of 5.9 GHz spectrum through Special Temporary Authority during and after the pandemic.

·?????? Advanced 5.9 GHz Rules – Central player in the development of FCC’s 5.9 GHz band rules.

·?????? Helped Protect 5 GHz Access – Prevented loss of access to 5 GHz band from Terminal Doppler Weather Radar. ?

Regulatory Engagement?

·?????? Defeated Net Neutrality – Partnered with coalition to defeat in federal court the FCC’s net neutrality/utility-style rules, helping all ISPs avoid harmful regulation.

·?????? Stopped Bulk Billing Rule – Helped defeat FCC’s onerous bulk billing rule proposal.

·?????? Reduced Universal Service Red Tape – Successfully argued for waiver of Professional Engineer certification for BDC submissions.

·?????? Made “Broadband Labels” more Small-Provider-Friendly – Persuaded FCC to allow more time for smaller ISPs to create their “broadband labels.”

·?????? Drove OTARD Changes at FCC – Key voice in revision of FCC’s OTARD rule to include “hub and relay” sites.

·?????? Made EBS Better for Small Rural Providers – Helped FCC fashion rural-focused EBS licensing scheme.

·?????? Fought for Smaller Providers in Universal Service – Led in the FCC’s replacement of Weiss rating standard and relaxation of CAF/RDOF Letter of Credit rules.?

BEAD?

·?????? Spearheaded BEAD Reform Efforts – Sponsored and published "Getting to the Broadband Future Efficiently with BEAD Funding," by MIT’s Bill Lehr, shaping NTIA’s BEAD reform efforts and guidelines.

·?????? Attacking BEAD Overbuilding – Persuaded NTIA to clarify that deployments using CBRS GAA and other licensed-by-rule spectrum are “reliable broadband” services and cannot be overbuilt by BEAD-funded networks.?

·?????? Led Hill Charge Against Biased BEAD Rules – Shepherded creation of Senator Daines’ NTIA letter, which was critical of BEAD’s non-tech neutral focus, and which started the avalanche of public criticism of BEAD.

·?????? Worked with Hill Champions to Expose BEAD Failings – Provided key input to Arielle Roth for Senator Cruz’s “Red Light Report,” which further outlined concerns about BEAD’s non-tech neutral approach to the IIJA, and which specifically called out support for the use of unlicensed fixed wireless.

·?????? Provided Key Input to Reveal BEAD Challenges – Provided key media input, leading to the Commerce Department IG’s report critical of NTIA’s administration of BEAD.

·?????? Made BEAD More Accessible for Smaller ISPs – Led the relaxation of BEAD’s Letter of Credit and Build America, Buy America mandates.

·?????? Made BEAD Better in the States – Spurred states to increase support for alternatives to Letter of Credit requirements and embrace performance bonds.

·?????? Drove Changes to Support Alternative Tech – Central advocate in the expanded use of alternative technologies in BEAD to improve WISPA members’ ability to defend their networks and/or participate in BEAD.

·?????? Successfully Lobbied States to Raise Alarms Over BEAD – Spurred publication of letters to the NTIA on BEAD reform from Louisiana’s Governor and Texas’ Comptroller, with more to come.

Advocacy, Awareness, Education

·?????? Ensuring Tech-Neutrality – Key voice for tech-neutrality in the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, USDA’s broadband programs, BEAD and other similar deployment programs.

·?????? Provided Common Sense – Helped policymakers understand the best way to build networks is through a “best tool for the job” approach, ensuring that all technologies are on the table for connecting our communities.?

·?????? Provided Key Data to State Broadband Offices – Underwrote the “Broadband Optimization Tool” for state broadband offices, in partnership with the Vernonburg Group.

·?????? Launched State Advocacy Efforts – Set-up a state grassroots network to advance state issues of importance, help BEAD use all available technology, and protect against government-supported overbuilds.

·?????? Implemented Nationwide Broadband Education – Hosted regional conferences/lobby days/broadband office presentations in California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

·?????? Secured State Recognition for WISPs – Shepherded Oklahoma’s proclamation of “Broadband Appreciation Week,” which specifically recognized the work of WISPA’s members in the digital divide.

·?????? Brought WISPs to Capitol Hill – Hosted annual DC fly-ins for WISPA members to lobby their Congressional delegations.

·?????? Raised Profile of WISPs in National Broadband Discussion – Provided meaningful input in all important Congressional, Executive, Judicial, FCC, NTIA, USDA, Treasury, state/local, industry standards bodies, think-tanks, and national media outlets on broadband matters.

If you would like to know more about WISPA, please contact Mike Wendy at [email protected].