Community-Centered Wireless Infrastructure Networks

This white paper explains how communities can ensure access to fifth-generation wireless bandwidth and services (5G) for all residents through citywide, architecturally coherent, shared wireless networks. The public-private partnership approach outlined below—made possible by recent developments in private wireless networking—enables communities to co-create ubiquitous, resource-efficient, and flexible neutral host networks that facilitate equitable deployment of wireless connectivity. Drawing on lessons from community-led efforts over the past decade, this paper argues that cities can, and should, combine public infrastructure with privately-implemented 5G technology and service to provide broadband solutions that prioritize both municipal objectives and innovation to bridge the digital divide. This paper proposes the Community-centered Wireless Infrastructure Network model, in which cities partner with a private neutral host infrastructure provider that will finance and operate radio access networks that prioritize city and community use cases while simultaneously hosting the services of commercial Mobile Network Operators and internet service providers.

[David Gilford is a Principal with HR&A Advisors. Joe Kochan serves as the CEO of US Ignite. Bryan Gartner and Noah Tulsky are Partners at Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners.]