WISPA Welcomes FCC’s Inquiry into Advanced Services Deployment

The following statement may be attributed to Louis Peraertz, VP of Policy for WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries:

Washington, DC, December 1, 2023 – WISPA welcomes the FCC’s inquiry into the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans. Indeed, all Americans must have access to reliable, high-speed Internet access to fully participate in our economy and society, no matter where they live. For over two decades, WISPA members have played an integral part of this policy goal, today delivering advanced capabilities to millions in rural, under-resourced and Tribal parts of the country. This has been achieved mainly through private investment, encouraged by “light touch” regulatory policies and ready access to evolutionary and cost-effective transmission media, such as unlicensed, licensed-by-rule and exclusive-use licensed spectrum, and fiber. Customers are happy. Service capacity and pricing meets the evolving demands of the marketplace. And more people than ever are online as a result.

As we urge in our comments, consistent and reasonable capacity and service benchmarks; the identification and release of more commercial spectrum; and avoidance of new regulatory burdens which could impede investment will best incentivize the continual roll-out of advanced capabilities. Hemming to this framework will bring more solutions – especially from small rural players – to areas where other providers have declined to invest.

We look forward to adding to this important debate so all Americans may always possess the capabilities to meaningfully access the Internet and participate online.

About WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries
WISPA’s approximately 1000 members provide fixed broadband connectivity, and include equipment suppliers, support services, and other industry partners and stakeholders. Our members provide broadband access to millions of residential and business customers in rural, urban, and Tribal areas across America.

Contact
Mike Wendy
WISPA
202-763-5257
mwendy@wispa.org