WISPA: NTIA Right in its Positive View of CBRS

The Wireless ISP Association told the NTIA its conclusions were on target in a May report that said dynamic sharing and the citizens broadband radio service are a model for the future of spectrum use (see 2305010063). Comments on the report were due Wednesday. WISPA’s members “have been at the forefront” of deployments and “are using CBRS to create and expand networks into rural areas and increase throughput as well as offering competition in the fixed broadband marketplace,” WISPA said. “The vast majority” of registered CBRS devices “are being used for fixed wireless access in rural areas,” the group said. WISPA members also said the CBRS equipment they use enabled fixed broadband speeds of 400/100 Mbps. WISPA fired back at CTIA and major wireless carriers, who have criticized CBRS as not living up to the hype (see 2211140062). Carriers allege “real-world studies show low utilization, low market demand, and a dearth of innovative use cases,” WISPA said: “Decoded, such criticisms really mean that the CBRS band was not handed over to the mobile wireless industry, and instead has been useful for a wide-variety of other use cases, including extensive fixed wireless broadband access in rural areas.”