How many ways can you share a spectrum band? You’re about to find out.

In January 2020, the FCC authorized full commercial deployment in the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band — creating a sharing model that has become a springboard for creativity, problem-solving and optimization.

Among them are the hundreds of wireless internet service providers (WISPs), the cost-saving manufacturers, the pioneering agriculture operations and of course bridges for the digital divide.

See below for just a couple of examples distributed across the country.

Shown above: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, MicroSeismic, Inc., Avista Utilities, DigitalC

A brilliant model for spectrum allocation in other bands, CBRS demonstrates a clear, evidence-based solution to the interminable “spectrum crunch.”

To date, more than 240K CBRS devices (known as CBSDs), 490+ different types of client devices (EUDs), and more than 4,300 certified installers make up the vast success of this sharing model in its first two years.

WifiForward celebrates the upcoming three-year anniversary by highlighting a few of the many interesting uses of this dynamic shared spectrum band. We’ve come a long way since the entire process started back in 2013!

But don’t just take our word for it — many others have praised the band’s success online and on Twitter — and keep track of future developments right here with us on WifiForward.