Broadband wireless makes quiet gains in rural broadband market

Cellular, landline and satellite broadband providers have been grabbing all the headlines lately, but those aren't the only technology options for bringing broadband to unserved areas of rural America. Another viable option comes from an industry group that has been quite quiet amid all the policy debate, while nevertheless continuing to make inroads in the rural broadband market. There's also broadband wireless.

A couple of developments could positively impact the use of broadband wireless in rural areas:

• There are a lot of companies that won broadband stimulus funding for open access middle-mile fiber networks -- and companies that already have deployed such networks say they help jumpstart broadband wireless deployments by giving potential network operators a viable backhaul option.
• Broadband wireless also could benefit -- at least a bit -- from proposed Universal Service reforms. The frontrunner reform proposal would direct a large amount of support to traditional landline carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and small rural telcos. But the proposal also opens up the possibility of a reverse auction in some rural areas, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some broadband wireless operators participating in -- and maybe even winning -- some of those auctions. Broadband wireless operators don't receive any Universal Service support today, so even a relatively small amount of funding would be a win for them.