WISPA

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WISPA Announces Board and Officer Changes Washington, DC, November 21, 2024 – This afternoon, WISPA officially sat the Association’s new Directors, elected by WISPA’s general membership and announced during its annual WISPAPALOOZA convention in October. WISPA’s new directors, three seated for three-year terms, and one seated to fill a one-year term left vacant earlier in the year, are: Matt Larsen, CEO, Vistabeam, Three-Year Term; Keefe John, President and CEO, Ethoplex, Three-Year Term; Ryan Grewell, General Manager, Smart Way Communications, LLC, Three-Year Term; and Kent Winrich, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Owner, Open Broadband LLC, One-Year Term. They join five continuing Board members, including: Jeff Broadwick, Senior Sales Executive, CTIconnect; Jason Guzzo, CEO, Hudson Valley Wireless; Todd Harpest, Business Intelligence Analyst, Wisper Internet; Josh Luthman, President, Imagine Networks; Spencer Pous, CEO, BluBroadband ISP. Following this action, the Board of Directors elected officers, which are: Matt Larsen, Chairperson; Keefe John, Vice Chairperson; Jason Guzzo, Treasurer; and Spencer Pous, Secretary. “WISPA and our industry have been gifted with exceptionally talented individuals who are successful operators and respected leaders in the communities they serve,” said David Zumwalt, President and CEO of WISPA. “As we enter a new policy environment following the recent national elections, and innovate with diverse technologies and business models, I welcome their participation and contributions to the growth of our association.” Added Zumwalt, “The WISP industry will continue to thrive, and lead in closing the digital divide, aided in no small measure by their steady guidance.” With the seating of new Directors and election of officers, Todd Harpest stepped down as Chairperson but continues to serve as a Director; Jeff Kohler’s term as Director ended; and former Director Brian Young stepped down as Secretary. “We thank Todd, Jeff and Brian, who together were instrumental in leading WISPA through the pandemic and many legislative, agency and other challenges of the past several years,” said Zumwalt. “The value of their service to WISPA and our industry is inestimable, and we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for their selfless contribution to WISPs and the communities we serve.” #WISPs #WISPA

WISPA Thanks FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel for Her Service The following statement may be attributed to David Zumwalt, President and CEO of WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries: Washington, DC, November 21, 2024 – WISPA would like to thank FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for her years of thoughtful leadership and dedication to the U.S. communications marketplace and its millions of consumers.  Her guidance helped all Americans stay safe and connected through the depths of the pandemic, and her efforts to increase internet access to those who do not have it—or cannot afford it— will remain her powerful legacy. The WISP industry and the local communities it serves greatly appreciate Chairwoman Rosenworcel for her decision in the July 2023 ACAM Order to help ensure that existing broadband networks are better protected from government-funded overbuilding.  That Order reaffirmed that networks using entirely unlicensed spectrum have the technical capabilities to provide reliable broadband service even while acknowledging that NTIA had taken a different approach in its BEAD program. Thank you, Chairwoman Rosenworcel, for your service, and best wishes in your future endeavors. #FCC #Rosenworcel #WISPA #WISP #Broadband

CBRS works and is growing > "Nearly 70% of the more than 400,000 CBRS sites are in rural areas, according to a new NTIA report on CBRS usage." https://lnkd.in/e3-DtM3e

WISPA Congratulates Commissioner Brendan Carr on His Appointment to FCC Chair The following statement may be attributed to David Zumwalt, President and CEO of WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries:   Washington, DC, November 18, 2024 – WISPA congratulates FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr for his appointment by President-elect Donald Trump to Chairman of the FCC. Commissioner Carr is a strong proponent of a "light-touch" regulatory approach to the marketplace, which has helped the U.S. communications market grow exponentially, thrive, and lead the world in pro-consumer innovation. In particular, WISPA believes Carr’s longstanding leadership on a balanced approach to spectrum allocation; his vocal and fierce stance against government micro-management of ISPs, as seen in needless Title II net neutrality mandates and elsewhere; and his call to properly target Universal Service programs so that they benefit those who truly lack broadband – these principles among others will help guide the U.S. communications marketplace to renewed vitality and prosperity, all in service of the average household consumer.     Again, congratulations, Commissioner Carr, on your appointment to Chairman of the FCC. WISPA looks forward to working with you and continuing the great work you have achieved thus far. #FCC #BrendanCarr #WISPA

WISPA DOESN’T LIKE IT That’s a big and kind of crazy ask [of AT&T], according to Richard Bernhardt, VP of Spectrum and Industry at industry association WISPA, which represents hundreds of WISPs across the country. WISPA members and others that are using the band have invested “massive amounts of money” in buying CBRS equipment, which likely will not be usable in the lower 3 GHz. “They have invested planning, client acquisition and strategy and all the rest based on where they’re located. They can’t get that back,” he told Fierce. https://lnkd.in/eqr3UJ-g #CBRS #FCC #Spectrum

"Raising the maximum power level would substantially increase mutual interference," wrote WISPA, a trade association representing some of the nation's smaller fixed wireless Internet providers, in comments to the FCC. https://lnkd.in/eQUyX69S

WISPA Congratulates '24 Elections Winners Washington, DC, November 6, 2024 – WISPA congratulates President-elect Donald Trump, as well as members of the U.S. House, Senate and state governors, senators and representatives who won their election bids last night. Come January, many congressional leadership roles, committee assignments, agency heads, and other essential personnel in Washington and the states will change. It is important that WISPA work actively and productively with elected leaders as we have always done. Getting all Americans online is a mission WISPA shares with every constituency, and we are excited to further this critical work. WISPA members serve millions of Americans in or adjacent to the digital divide, often working in places which legacy providers and others have chosen to avoid. Mostly through their own privately risked investments, WISPA members use every tool in the toolbox – fiber, wireless spectrum (licensed, unlicensed and shared), satellite and more – to provide resilient and reliable connectivity, making the lives of their customers and communities better, safer and more prosperous. They bridge the digital divide 24/7/365 and play an integral role in America’s vibrant communications landscape. WISPA will continue to focus its advocacy on efforts which bring more solutions to the table, such as: -Tech-neutral broadband deployment policies that do not overbuild existing networks and promote choice and innovation -Meaningful access to spectrum -Fair access to vertical and other necessary infrastructure and rights-of-way -“Right-sized” policies and rules which invite small companies to solve the myriad connectivity challenges we face now and in the future For our unserved neighbors who are awaiting broadband service, time is of the essence. The optimal path to universal connectivity employs an all technology and solution provider approach. With changes soon to come in Washington and the states, we have a tremendous opportunity to come together in alignment with best-practices and other real-world guidance which cost-effectively, quickly and affordably delivers reliable broadband to those who still remain unserved. We pledge our steadfast efforts to work with all stakeholders to achieve this important, shared, policy goal. WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries David Zumwalt, President & CEO Todd Harpest, Chairperson https://lnkd.in/e-wY2bmA #WISPA #Election #FCC #NTIA #Broadband