Press Releases

Arlington, VA (July 15, 2016) – Following today’s roll-out of a new wireless broadband initiative by the Obama Administration, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, announced its commitment to provide technical and industry awareness support for the effort. The $400 million public-private Advanced Wireless Research Initiative (AWRI) is being led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with participation from other federal agencies and more than 20 technology companies and associations, and aims to advance wireless technologies and services by up to 1000x over current wireless networks.

Through an open competition request for proposals process, four wireless testing platforms will be built in different cities across the United States, which will allow academic researchers to conduct at-scale experiments. NSF and private-sector entities have committed a total of $85 million to the platforms to support fundamental research on advanced wireless technologies, beginning in FY 2017, in addition to $350 million in NSF academic research over the next seven years.

As a charter member of the AWR Consortium, TIA has committed to offering technical and engineering support to the consortium in wireless network deployment, Internet of Things, interoperability, and software-defined networking, and will leverage industry expertise within its broad membership to raise awareness of the consortium and galvanize technical support.

TIA CEO Scott Belcher issued the following statement:

“Federal government leadership in generating new research and development remains critical to advancing wireless technologies, especially as we approach the reality of 5G networks. While the United States has been a leader in 4G, continued investment in next-generation wireless technologies is essential for sustaining technological leadership in the competitive global marketplace. The administration’s initiative boosts R&D investment while also bringing together industry experts to coordinate and prioritize U.S. wireless innovation.”

“TIA will work closely with its members to provide private sector technology expertise and to raise industry awareness of the initiative.  With the support of TIA and other great partners, the effort will help move cutting-edge technologies out of the laboratory and into the global marketplace, while also easing the path for entrepreneurs and small businesses with concepts for new technologies.”

“The announcement of this initiative follows the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) adoption yesterday of new spectrum frontiers rules that make the United States the only country to date that has opened high-band spectrum for 5G networks. The combination of these efforts will help make certain the U.S. can continue to be the world’s innovation leader, and reap the economic and societal benefits that leadership enables.”