As he opened his last Connect (X) show as the President and CEO of WIA, Jonathan Adelstein said he’s most proud of the advocacy organization’s successes at all levels of government, including on Capitol Hill, at the White House, at the FCC, and in state legislatures. “We’ve had huge wins in Congress over the past 10 years. We expanded colocation, and compound expansion, by right under Section 6409. We saved the industry $250 million on unnecessary tower marking rules,” he said in Denver on Tuesday.
Adelstein also cited the FCC’s adoption of rules to streamline wireless infrastructure siting, and two-thirds of the states have enacted small cell bills that follow WIA’s model. The lobbying organization won a framework in Congress for a flexible, all-the-above approach, including fixed and mobile wireless, along with fiber.
But there’s a catch, he noted. “When the Administration drafted the rules this month, they seemed to have forgotten the law required technological neutrality. It was a break from the longstanding bipartisan recognition that all forms of broadband are needed to close the digital divide,” said Adelstein. He explained: “The approach is likely to create delays in getting service to rural America, higher costs, lack of resiliency, less mobility, and less help for public safety.” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr had something to say about the fiber preference this week.
Noting that NTIA will distribute the broadband deployment funds directly to states, Adelstein explained that states will determine which broadband providers are eligible for the funds because each state will make its own plan and process. That means WIA needs to get busy in individual states “to fight to get wireless included as widely as possible.”
Looking back 10 years to when he joined what was then called PCIA, Adelstein said the industry has grown enormously and it deserves a strong voice. Though he’s leaving to take a position at DigitalBridge on June 1, Adelstein says WIA is in a good place. Citing the work of the government affairs team, he said, “Our success will carry on because of their skills.”
“WIA is helping you keep the U.S. in the lead worldwide,” Adelstein told attendees. “It takes traditional steel and construction. And we’re evolving to include more complex networks indoors and out – while adding fiber and data center assets.”
He also said the show itself has grown over the years, from a small trade event into the “dynamic” Connect (X). “We renamed and rebranded the event — and the organization itself — to reflect the broader reach of our industry. So, even though I’m moving on, WIA’s on a strong foundation to keep growing along with you.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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