Wireless Infrastructure Association
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is an American trade association formed in 1949 and based in Arlington, Virginia. It represents companies that build and operate wireless infrastructure such as cell towers, rooftop wireless sites, and other facilities that carry wireless signals. The industry is described as the people who build the towers and networks that let you make calls and use data.
WIA’s members include major tower owners and technology companies such as American Tower, Ericsson, Graybar, JMA Wireless, Qualcomm, and SBA Communications. Collectively, member companies own and run more than 125,000 towers and antennas across the United States. WIA advocates on federal policy issues, focusing on broadband deployment, pole attachments on existing utility poles, wireless network resiliency, public safety, and wireless competition.
The association hosts an annual conference and trade show called the Connectivity Expo (also known as Connect (X)); it previously hosted the Wireless Infrastructure Show. The current chairman is Jeffrey A. Stoops, president and CEO of SBA Communications. Jonathan Adelstein serves as WIA’s president and CEO, with Tim House as Executive Vice President. WIA was founded in 1949 and has evolved as technologies have advanced, shifting focus over time from land mobile radio and paging to modern tower and antenna siting and other wireless infrastructure.
Key historical actions include filing an amicus brief in the 2012 Supreme Court case Arlington v. FCC in support of the FCC, arguing that delays in local approval for broadband projects hinder national progress. In 2012-2013, Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, including a provision known as “6409(a)” that gives states and localities to approve collocation, removal, or replacement of wireless equipment on existing towers, provided the change doesn’t substantially alter the tower’s dimensions. WIA supported efforts to speed broadband deployment and helped shape broadband legislation and funding, including guiding the inclusion of infrastructure providers in the eligible recipients for federal broadband funds through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
In 2013, WIA helped create the Warriors 4 Wireless program with Cisco, American Tower, and others to help military veterans find jobs in the wireless industry, aiming to place thousands of veterans in roles. WIA also supported the FCC’s “5G Upgrade Order,” which clarified deployment rules for new wireless technologies. The association has lobbied for infrastructure funding and supported an “all-of-the-above” broadband strategy to promote various technologies and close the digital divide as part of accelerating 5G.
A longstanding issue for the industry is how to balance federal and local oversight of wireless infrastructure. The FCC has periodically proposed steps to simplify regulatory reviews for wireless facilities, including small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS). WIA helped shape the industry’s approach to these policies, while local governments have sometimes resisted perceived federal overreach. The HetNet Forum, which evolved from the former DAS Forum in 2013, brings together major carriers and other members to promote heterogeneous networks (HetNets) that combine different technologies such as macro cells, microcells, small cells, Wi‑Fi, and fiber backhaul.
Overall, WIA advocates for policies and investments that expand wireless connectivity, support 5G deployment, and improve nationwide access to wireless services.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:19 (CET).