How the ‘double sixes’ of Wi-Fi are driving a fixed wireless Renaissance

In terms of political clout and raw market value, Wi-Fi and unlicensed bands have long lived in the deep shadow of its cellular brethren. But even as 5G continues to loom large, the truth is that Wi-Fi and unlicensed bands as of right now have never been blessed with a brighter future. And that future is all about the ‘double sixes’: Wi-Fi 6 and 6 GHz. The double sixes will be of paramount important to WISPs everywhere.

Washington, DC, April 30, 2019 – WISPA is pleased by today’s apparent agreement by the White House and Congressional Democrats to work on a $2 trillion legislative package to rebuild and improve America’s crumbling infrastructure.  WISPA believes that meaningful access to new spectrum must play an important role in the as-of-yet unwritten legislative package, and that wireless internet service providers (WISPs) should have the same access to infrastructure and deployment opportunities.

It is no secret that the rolling mountains and heavy forests of West Virginia make it beautiful but incredibly challenging to deploy broadband services. 

Fortunately, WISPA member MicroLogic is up to the task. Founded in 1994, Micrologic has 15 employees and 1500 customers in 9 counties surrounding Buckhannon, West Virginia. They, like many other WISPs, started out of a frustration about the lack of broadband in their community and a determination to do something about it.

Washington, DC, April 18, 2019 – Today, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, appointed Claude Aiken, president and CEO of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC).  Aiken, as well as 29 other appointees, will advise the NTIA on spectrum policy aimed at boosting U.S. leadership in wireless technology.  The committee also works to ensure that critical government functions and national security interests have access to spectrum.

Washington, DC, April 12, 2019 – Today, a unanimous FCC initiated a rulemaking proceeding which seeks to update its over-the-air-reception device (OTARD) rule.  Among other things, the Commission is proposing to allow broadband “hubs” – pizza box-sized technology – on private property to serve groups of homes and businesses, helping align OTARD rules with how today’s wireless broadband networks are being built. 

Washington, DC, April 12, 2019 – Today, the White House and the FCC announced plans to embark on a new program to auction a large swath of millimeter spectrum for wireless services, and provide $20 billion dollars over 10 years for a “Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.”