WISPs Canvass Capitol Hill for Annual Lobby Day

Washington, DC, May 7, 2025 – Today, nearly 50 members of WISPA took to Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers and federal policymakers on the vital role that wireless internet service providers (WISPs) play in closing the digital divide. As part of WISPA’s annual spring advocacy day, participants will hold more than 60 meetings with Members of Congress and staff from both chambers to advocate for policies that support shared spectrum, balanced spectrum policy, and meaningful reform of the $42 billion BEAD program.

WISPs provide broadband to over 9 million Americans, primarily in unserved, under-resourced, and Tribal areas that too often fall outside the reach of traditional providers. By leveraging a mix of unlicensed spectrum, shared spectrum such as CBRS and 6 GHz, and increasingly fiber, WISPs have long pioneered flexible, cost-effective broadband solutions—often in places no one else would serve. For over two decades, these providers have built networks fueled by private investment and innovation, not subsidies or mandates.

“The WISP industry is evolving rapidly, both technologically and politically,” said Matt Mandel, WISPA’s Vice President of Government Affairs and organizer of the fly-in. “As broadband has become essential for economic and civic participation, federal policy has ramped up—introducing new funding, new rules, and new complexity. We’re here to ensure Congress understands that WISPs must be part of the solution.”

Congress plays a central role in shaping the broadband landscape—directing agencies like the FCC and NTIA, setting spectrum policy, and authorizing programs like BEAD. But for those initiatives to succeed, Mandel emphasized, they must create space for smaller, more agile players.

“WISPs are already closing the gap—faster and more affordably than legacy providers,” Mandel noted. “We’re urging lawmakers to preserve and expand access to unlicensed and shared spectrum, and to ensure BEAD encourages—not excludes—WISP participation. The program must also avoid wasting funds on overbuilding areas that already have adequate service.”

Mandel concluded: “WISPs are on the ground every day in communities others have long ignored. Their track record proves broadband can flourish in even the hardest-to-reach places. Our message to Congress is simple: if you want to close the digital divide quickly and sustainably, include WISPs in the plan.”

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