- Wireless by the Numbers Report
- Legislation Introduced to Revive FCC’s Equity Council
- Tribal Communities Face Gaps
- Report: Municipal Broadband vs. Competitors
- Cambridge Library’s Tech Sharing Program
WIRELESS BY THE NUMBERS REPORT
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) released its fourth Wireless Infrastructure by the Numbers report, for 2025. Last year, the report found that wireless infrastructure was being deployed more efficiently and contributing to employment.
This year, the report highlights significant investments in wireless infrastructure. Wireless infrastructure investments in 2025 amounted to nearly $65 billion, including construction, maintenance and operations. As was the case in 2024, the industry is driving significant employment across the U.S., with an estimated 342,350 full-time workers engaged in building, maintaining or operating cellular networks in 2025.
By the end of 2025, 158,500 purpose-built cellular towers, 254,850 macro-cell sites, 198,100 outdoor small cells, and 830,350 indoor small cell nodes were in operation.
While the amount spent on maintaining and operating the cellular networks has increased, build spending has dropped.
Colocation — hosting equipment from multiple network operators on the same physical structure — is contributing to the efficiency of the infrastructure ecosystem, and benefits both the industry and the environment.
“Shared infrastructure not only optimizes tower construction and maintenance costs but also allows multiple operators to benefit from additional resources, such as backup power, security enclosures, and site maintenance,” the report said.
The paper underlines that the rise of AI-powered applications is expected to increase the demand on wireless infrastructure in the coming years. Other factors contributing to increased demand include mobile video, rising mobile bandwidth consumption and hybrid workplace connectivity.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO REVIVE FCC’S EQUITY COUNCIL
Congressmembers introduced legislation this week that would compel the FCC to re-establish and codify its Communications Equity and Diversity Council. Versions of this council, which aims to make the communications sector more equitable and mitigate digital discrimination, have existed under both Democrat and Republican administrations since 2003. FCC Chair Brendan Carr disbanded it in January 2025.
“If we want communications policies that work for everyone, the communities most affected by the digital divide must have a seat at the table,” U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán said in a statement.
Council membership has previously been open to organizations that represent disadvantaged communities, including people with racial or economic disadvantages and small businesses owned by women or veterans.
In previous years, the FCC has taken action to address broadband discrimination, which includes digital redlining. However, federal requirements to end any programs, positions or initiatives that are “equity-related” have affected this work.
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FACE GAPS
A paper published Wednesday by the Fiber Broadband Association explores the need for investment in broadband infrastructure in tribal communities. Approximately 24 percent of residents living on tribal lands are without access to broadband — more than three times the national average.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration enacted the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, a $3 billion program to support tribal entities in deploying projects. Thus far, $2.2 billion of that has been awarded, but administrative changes have resulted in delays. The paper calls it “critical” to resolve this delay.
Tribal leaders are prioritizing fiber deployment to meet long-term connectivity needs; experts have emphasized fiber as being “the only technology capable of supporting the backhaul requirements of AI data centers.”
REPORT: MUNICIPAL BROADBAND VS. COMPETITORS
A new report leverages Ookla’s Speedtest data to study the performance of 14 of the largest municipal broadband networks compared to the competing Internet service providers in their markets, from December 2024 to December 2025.
More than 700 U.S. communities are served by a municipal broadband network, which is one operated by the local city or county government or a municipal utility rather than a private company.
Eight of the 14 municipal providers beat their broadband competitors in median upload speeds. Fort Collins, Colo.’s municipal network, Connexion, was the leader in median upload speed. UTOPIA Fiber in Utah delivered the lowest latency of all 14 municipal providers.
CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY’S TECH SHARING PROGRAM
The Cambridge Public Library in Massachusetts announced a new program this week called Tech for All. Through it, the library will provide free, refurbished laptops and mobile Wi-Fi hot spots to eligible patrons.
Patrons can apply online or by phone. To be eligible, they must have a valid library card, be at least 18 years old, and commit to participating in one in-person workshop to learn how to use their device.
Applications close March 22; recipients will be selected at random and notified by April 3. The program builds on the library’s ongoing Digital Equity Initiative.
Public libraries play an essential role in bridging digital inequities, including via work to expand technology access and digital literacy.
