CTIA

5G fixed wireless access (FWA) services could serve 8.4 million rural households — nearly half the rural homes in the US — with a “future-proof”, rapidly deployable, and cost-effective high-speed broadband option, according to a new Accenture study commissioned by CTIA, the wireless industry association. The report, titled 5G Fixed Wireless Broadband: Helping Close the Digital Divide in Rural America, discusses how 5G FWA services can quickly and cost-effectively bring high-speed broadband to 8.4 million households in rural parts of the country.

Thankfully, the Administration is developing a National Spectrum Strategy to give the wireless industry the certainty required to plan for and build out the best and most secure 5G networks possible. We’re laying out a three-point call to action to inform the Administration’s National Spectrum Strategy:

CTIA released its Annual Wireless Industry Survey, which found Americans used a record 13.72 trillion megabytes (MBs) of mobile data in 2016, an increase of over 4 trillion MBs over 2015 and 35 times the volume of traffic in 2010. The amount of data traffic sent over wireless networks in 2016 -13.72 trillion MBs - is the equivalent of 1.58 million years of streaming HD videos.

Some other key findings:

• Data-intensive mobile devices continue to rise: Heavy traffic-generating devices, smartphones and wireless-enabled tablets and laptops, now total 309.8 million of the 395.9 million devices on carrier networks – a 238% increase since 2010.
• There are more wireless devices than Americans: With 395.9 million total active devices in the US, adoption is now equal to 120.6% of the US population, or more than 1.2 wireless devices per American.
• Industry committed to building world-leading networks: A record 308,334 cells sites were in operation in 2016, representing a 57% growth over the last decade, thanks to over $26 billion invested in 2016 alone.

The 911 system is generally funded through state and local fees and surcharges paid by consumers on telecommunications services, including wireless.

As wireless service providers continue to invest substantial resources in networks and equipment to support 911, wireless consumers pay more than $2 billion a year to support state and local 911 services, including operations and equipment upgrades for 911 emergency call centers. 911 funds make sure that our nation’s emergency call takers and first responders are properly equipped to handle wireless 911 calls and, increasingly, text messages.

Unfortunately, some states used those funds earmarked for 911 for non-911 purposes. While the number of states that raid their 911 funds has recently declined, CTIA and its member companies believe that even one state that raids the 911 fund is too many. Adding to our concern, many states and localities don’t have safeguards in place, such as audits, to determine if funds are being properly spent.

States and localities need to use 911 funds for their intended purpose: to ensure the public 911 call centers and public safety community have the resources needed to respond to 911 calls, including those from wireless devices.