{"id":2062,"date":"2022-06-13T08:05:14","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T15:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwta.biz\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2022-08-24T11:00:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T18:00:55","slug":"unlicensed-spectrum-does-provide-reliable-internet-access-a-statement-from-preseem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nwta.biz\/unlicensed-spectrum-does-provide-reliable-internet-access-a-statement-from-preseem\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlicensed Spectrum Does Provide Reliable Internet Access: A Statement from Preseem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A $41.6B funding opportunity announced by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) excludes local and regional ISPs who deliver internet access via fixed wireless over unlicensed spectrum. Because of this, we believe the definition of Reliable Broadband Service should be amended.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a statement from Preseem regarding the NTIA\u2019s $41.6-billion BEAD Program and its definition of Reliable Broadband Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 13, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced over $40 billion in funding<\/a> for nationwide broadband internet deployment under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the NTIA\u2019s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), distribution of this money will be \u201cprimarily based on the relative number of \u2018unserved\u2019 locations (i.e. broadband-serviceable locations that lack access to Reliable Broadband Service at speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream and latency levels low enough to support real-time, interactive applications) in each State and Territory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the surface, this sounds admirable but it\u2019s the definition of Reliable Broadband Service with which we take exception. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many local and regional Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) provide internet service to their customers via fixed wireless over unlicensed spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its name, unlicensed spectrum does not mean \u201cillegal\u201d or \u201cunregulated\u201d in the internet world. Instead, it refers to radio frequencies that are open to anyone for any use. It\u2019s the basis of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology, for example, and generates billions of dollars for the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NOFO states, however, that \u201clocations served exclusively by satellite, services using entirely unlicensed spectrum, or a technology not specified by the Commission for purposes of the Broadband DATA Maps, do not meet the criteria for Reliable Broadband Service and so will be considered \u2018unserved.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s our view that the NTIA\u2019s definition of Reliable Broadband Service excludes ISPs who are already providing reliable and dependable internet access to so-called unserved rural and non-urban areas. As such, we believe the NTIA\u2019s definition is unfair and inaccurate, and should be amended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s some of the reasons we disagree with the NTIA definition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n