WISPA Welcomes New NTIA BEAD Guidance, But More Change Still Needed

The following statement may be attributed to David Zumwalt, President and CEO of WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries:

Washington, DC, January 2, 2025 – NTIA’s final guidance on “Alternative Technologies” released today is a welcome change that will help states use their BEAD money to reach all who lack broadband.  It creates a larger role for cost-effective and efficient technology solutions – such as unlicensed fixed wireless (uFW) spectrum – from which states can choose for their BEAD deployments, thereby promoting greater participation and competition, and making finite BEAD dollars go further.  Additionally, enabling states to have greater flexibility to use these technologies will prevent wasteful overbuilding, largely removing from the BEAD process areas that already have, or can readily achieve, the broadband access that meets underlying IIJA technical baseline standards.  Taken together, not only is this a big win for states and the BEAD program, it is also one for WISPA members that provide uFW broadband.

This guidance represents an official acknowledgment that BEAD’s fiber focus alone cannot meet the IIJA’s mandate to get all online.  WISPA appreciates NTIA’s consideration of WISPA’s advocacy in making this change.  That noted, we believe uFW broadband that otherwise meets baseline standards should not remain sidelined from the definition of Reliable Broadband Service.  Leveraging uFW allows faster BEAD deployments at lower costs, making it possible for the promise of “Internet for All” to become reality.

BEAD can succeed.  The guidance released by NTIA today takes the program one step closer toward getting all Americans online with affordable and reliable broadband.

Celebrating 20 Years of 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