Celebrating 15 Years of Advancing Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
Date: October 15, 2023
McLean, VA – Today marks Key Bridge’s 15th anniversary, and I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable journey we’ve shared in the evolution of dynamic spectrum sharing.
When we founded the company in 2008, the concept of automated, real-time spectrum coordination was still emerging. We began by contributing to early FCC proceedings that laid the groundwork for TV White Spaces—the first large-scale attempt to open underutilized spectrum for unlicensed broadband. While the TVWS market proved challenging and slower to develop than many hoped, it taught us invaluable lessons about neutral administration, incumbent protection, and building robust, interoperable systems.
Those experiences positioned us perfectly for the next chapter: the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). We engaged deeply in the FCC’s rulemaking process, submitted proposals for both SAS and ESC administration, and worked closely with the Wireless Innovation Forum to help shape the technical standards that make multi-vendor coexistence possible today.
Along the way, we expanded internationally with TV White Space services in Canada, secured contracts supporting federal spectrum management, and formed key partnerships—like our longstanding integration with Nokia—that have enabled carrier-grade private network deployments at scale.
The path hasn’t always been straight, but progress has been steady and evolutionary. What began as conceptual discussions has matured into a thriving CBRS ecosystem delivering real-world private 5G, fixed wireless, and neutral-host solutions across industries.
Dynamic spectrum sharing is fundamentally a public good—maximizing the use of a finite national resource to drive innovation, economic growth, and connectivity without compromising critical incumbent operations. Its development has enjoyed consistent bipartisan support across administrations: from early conceptual work in the first Clinton administration, to formal TVWS rules adopted in 2008 under the second Bush administration, the establishment of the CBRS framework in 2015 during the Obama administration, and full commercial realization under the first Trump administration. This enduring commitment, consistently shepherded by the FCC for decades, underscores why DSA remains essential to America’s wireless leadership.
None of this would have been possible without the FCC’s extraordinary vision and leadership—particularly from the teams at the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology—in pioneering innovative sharing frameworks. We’re also deeply grateful to the Wireless Innovation Forum for their essential role in forging industry consensus and detailed standards.
Thank you to our dedicated team, our partners, and the entire community for 15 years of collaboration and perseverance.
The future of dynamic spectrum sharing is bright—and we’re excited to continue contributing to it.
– Jesse Caulfield CEO, Key Bridge Wireless