More than 225 Applications Totaling Nearly $3 Billion Submitted for the Wireless Innovation Fund

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that it received 227 applications requesting more than $2.94 billion in funding to support wireless equipment innovation.

The second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund will make up to $420 million available to invest in projects that will drive commercialization and innovation in open radio units. Radio units, which sit at the top of cell phone towers to transmit and receive signals, are the largest and most costly part of the carrier network.  

“Making open radio units more widely available will build momentum toward greater adoption of open and interoperable networks,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “The interest in this round of funding will lead to a stronger wireless supply chain for the U.S. and our allies.”

Applications for this round of funding were due July 17. NTIA is now evaluating the applications and expects to begin making awards later this year.

Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the $1.5 billion Wireless Innovation Fund is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, aiming to drive wireless innovation, foster competition, and strengthen supply chain resilience. By supporting the development of open radio units, this second round of funding will help to ensure that wireless technology is built by the U.S. and its global allies and partners – not vendors from nations that threaten our national security.  

This second round of funding targets two critical areas:

• Open radio unit commercialization: Accelerating the development of open radio units to the point where they meet the needs of wireless carriers and are ready for commercial trials; and
• Open radio unit innovation: Improving the overall performance and capabilities of open radio units through targeted research and development.

NTIA has already awarded more than $140 million to 17 grantees through the first Notice of Funding Opportunity. That initial round of investments is supporting testing research and development, and the establishment of testing and evaluation facilities.

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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration    

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.