Statement on New Report Highlighting CBRS Is America’s Most Widely Deployed Mid-Band Spectrum Asset Powering Manufacturing, Rural Broadband, and Critical Infrastructure at Scale

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

Washington, D.C. –  A new report released today by Spectrum for the Future, 5G-OT Alliance, American-Made 5G, OnGo Alliance, and WISPA delivers a clear message: Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is by every measurable deployment metric, the most widely utilized mid-band spectrum asset in the American economy — powering private 5G networks, rural broadband, advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure at scale. According to the report:

  • 75% of all U.S. private 5G networks run on CBRS.
  • Nearly 260 manufacturers currently using CBRS, projected to grow by nearly 9 times by 2032.
  • CBRS-enabled private networks are reducing manufacturing downtime by as much as 30%, while also enabling automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time analytics.
  • 442,000+ CBRS base stations deployed, with nearly 70% in rural areas.
  • 10+ million U.S. locations now have access to CBRS-powered broadband connectivity.
  • Growth in CBRS deployments is expected to continue to significantly outpace traditional high-power deployments, driving an expanded 86% share of U.S. private 5G deployments for CBRS over the same timeframe.

“For years, the CBRS framework has been a success story. Factories running smarter, rural communities getting connected, and airports running safer. This report gives a clear picture of what CBRS is delivering for America, billions in private investment and broadband access for underserved communities. Shared spectrum is an innovation platform that’s truly transforming our economy,” said Dave Wright, Policy Director for the Spectrum for the Future Coalition.

“American manufacturing is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation, and CBRS is a critical tool for bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States. The private 5G networks powered by CBRS are enabling the advanced automation that U.S. manufacturers need to compete globally,” said John Puskar, CEO of American-Made 5G.

“Rural broadband providers have been the biggest success story of the CBRS framework. Small wireless carriers across America are now delivering high-speed connectivity to communities that traditional carriers deemed unreachable or uneconomical. Many thousands  of rural families and businesses are now connected to opportunities they previously couldn’t access,” said Richard Bernhardt,  Vice President, Spectrum and Industry for WISPA, Broadband without Boundaries.

“Mission-critical wireless connectivity for manufacturing operations requires secure, reliable networks that traditional providers simply cannot guarantee. The 5G-OT Alliance is seeing firsthand how enterprise-controlled CBRS networks are enabling the industrial transformation America needs to remain competitive globally,” said Dave Mor, CEO of OneLayer and Founding Member of the 5G-OT Alliance.

“When enterprises control their own spectrum and wireless infrastructure rather than depending on incumbent carriers, they unlock innovation and operational efficiency that drives broader economic value. Spectrum-sharing frameworks like CBRS demonstrate how policy can enable competition, lower barriers to entry, create tailored solutions for diverse business needs, proving that CBRS spectrum will create more value than any other spectrum band allocation,” said Norman Fekrat, Chairman of the OnGo Alliance.

Spectrum for the Future and coalition members continue to call on policymakers to preserve the current CBRS framework that has enabled billions in private investment and deployment across critical sectors.

Read the full report: https://spectrumfuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CBRS-Powers-American-Manufacturing-vFINAL.pdf

View the one-pager: https://spectrumfuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SFTFCBRS-One-Pager_6.11.26.pdf

See CBRS in action: https://spectrumfuture.com/spectrum-sharing-in-action/