The Spectrum Policy Mess

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has leaned into supporting fixed wireless throughout the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. In June 2025, NTIA surprised State Broadband Offices by announcing they would need to remove areas already served by unlicensed fixed wireless from BEAD eligibility. NTIA's new BEAD guidelines, which prioritize the cheapest technology, make it likely that many awards will go to wireless internet service providers that rely heavily on CBRS and 6 GHz spectrum. However, in the One Big, Beautiful Bill, Congress renewed the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction authority, and instructed the FCC and NTIA to identify at least 800 megahertz of spectrum between 1.3 GHz and 10.5 GHz to be auctioned—without any protections for CBRS or the 6 GHz band. NTIA and Congress are working at odds with each other, and it’s not hard to envision BEAD grants going to WISPs and then watching WISPs lose the spectrum they need.