The broadband landscape is changing. For years, conversations about federal programs like BEAD often left wireless operators on the sidelines. That era is over. The latest BEAD guidance confirms what many of us have known all along: fixed wireless—when engineered and managed correctly—is a proven, reliable solution for delivering broadband at scale.
This recognition is more than a policy update. It’s a validation of the work WISPs have been doing for decades—connecting communities efficiently, creatively, and often without subsidies.
Opportunity Without Dependency
The reality is that not every operator will apply for BEAD funding. Some will decide the compliance requirements and timelines aren’t worth the distraction. And that’s perfectly fine.
The strength of this industry has always been independence. WISPs have built networks in places others overlooked, often with limited resources and plenty of obstacles. BEAD doesn’t change that DNA—it simply adds another option to the playbook.
So, whether you pursue funding or not, the path forward is the same: continue investing wisely, growing sustainably, and delivering the service your customers expect.
The Scalability Imperative
Where BEAD does provide useful guidance is in its emphasis on scalability. Networks aren’t just judged by what they can deliver today, but by how they will adapt to tomorrow’s demand. That’s where successful operators are setting themselves apart.
Scalability is about more than adding subscribers. It’s about:
- Capacity that grows with demand, ensuring service quality even in high-traffic conditions.
- Interference resilience, because reliable service depends on navigating an increasingly crowded spectrum.
- Operational efficiency, using automation and intelligent management to simplify complexity.
These principles aren’t abstract—they’re reflected in the Cambium products that WISPs are deploying today:
- ePMP™ 4000: Purpose-built for efficiency, with GPS synchronization, high spectral efficiency, and advanced interference mitigation to help operators scale from small deployments to region-wide rollouts – and providing a seamless, cost-optimized migration path with backward compatibility to earlier generations.
- PMP 450: A proven platform for reliability and coverage flexibility, supporting rural and suburban growth with consistent performance.
- cnWave™ 60 GHz: Delivering fiber-like speed and resilience in dense or high-growth areas, with mesh routing and automatic path rerouting that keep networks strong even as environments change.
Together, these platforms give service providers a toolkit for building networks that not only meet today’s requirements but are ready for the growth curve of tomorrow – at an affordable price.
A Moment of Validation
What excites me most about this moment is the recognition it brings to the WISP community. For too long, wireless has been treated as a stopgap. BEAD’s inclusion of fixed wireless as a legitimate, fundable technology is an overdue acknowledgment of the innovation and persistence this industry represents.
But it’s also a reminder. Programs will come and go, policies will evolve, and technologies will continue to advance. The providers who thrive will be the ones who keep building for the future, regardless of the funding climate.
Looking Ahead
At Cambium, our role is simple: to give you the tools to succeed—whether you’re writing a BEAD grant application or simply focused on serving your community better tomorrow than you did today.
Because ultimately, broadband isn’t about programs or policies. It’s about people—families, students, businesses—who depend on you to stay connected. And that mission goes far beyond BEAD.