Special Alert:  Effective November 20, 2023, RWA’s bylaws were amended (1) to allow wireless carriers, with up to two million (2,000,000) subscribers, to be voting carrier members, instead of the former 100,000 or fewer subscriber threshold; and (2) to permit up to two RWA board members at a time to have another company representative serve on another national wireless trade association board contemporaneously.

The changes to the RWA bylaws are necessitated by industry consolidation and growth.  RWA looks forward to welcoming more rural carriers into its member-driven, member-run association.

Details on the new RWA carrier tiers are provided below.  Contact info@ruralwireless.org with questions.

About RWA:

The Rural Wireless Association is a Washington, DC-based trade association that ensures rural wireless carrier members have a strong voice in our nation’s capital.  RWA’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient, and innovative telecommunications technologies to underserved rural communities across the country.

Benefits of Joining RWA:

• Innovative advocacy by legal and regulatory experts devoted to strengthening policies that affect rural wireless companies
• Essential information provided to members as it unfolds
• Valuable relationships strengthened through committee participation, conferences, and member-only networking events
• Knowledgeable and responsive Public Policy Committee shapes the association’s legislative and regulatory agendas to better serve our members
• Member-run Education Committee that uses webinars, briefings, white papers, and member teleconferences to inform and instruct
• Member-driven advocacy approach
• Member-elected Board of Directors consisting of C-levels each with over 20+ years of industry experience
• Member-only briefings detailing congressional and FCC actions, as well as other issues that impact rural carriers

Voting Members – Carriers (Carrier A, Carriers 1 – 6)

A Voting (Carrier) member is an FCC licensee or one that leases spectrum from an FCC licensee with under two million subscribers.  FY2025 Carrier Member Rates:

• Carrier A (0 to 500 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $3,800
• Carrier 1 (501 to 2,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $7,500
• Carrier 2 (2,001 to 10,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $13,200
• Carrier 3 (10,001 to 100,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $25,000
• Carrier 4 (100,001 to 500,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $35,000
• Carrier 5 (500,001 to 1,000,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $50,000
• Carrier 6 (1,000,001 to 2,000,000 wireless subscribers) – Membership Investment: $75,000
• Download an FY2025 membership application and email the completed form to mgiroux@ruralwireless.org.

Fixed-wireless-only Members

• A provider of fixed-wireless broadband internet services only.  Non-voting member.
• Learn more:  RWA provides a unified voice for fixed wireless issues, especially in rural America.
• FY2025 Membership Investment: $5,500
• Download an FY2025 membership application and email the completed form to mgiroux@ruralwireless.org.

Associate Members

• Any company providing goods or services to the rural wireless industry (consulting firms, law firms, engineering firms, suppliers and those companies not otherwise qualifying as a Voting or Supporting Member).
• FY2025 Membership Investment: $3,000
• Download an FY2025 membership application and email the completed form to mgiroux@ruralwireless.org

Supporting Members

• Resellers of wireless services, unlicensed providers of service and affiliated companies of Voting Members.
• FY2025 Membership Investment: $5,000
• Download an FY2025 membership application and email the completed form to mgiroux@ruralwireless.org.

Tax Status

Dues payments to RWA are NOT deductible as charitable contributions for federal tax purposes. However, dues payments may be deductible as an “ordinary and necessary” business expense. The passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Clinton 1993 Tax Act) limits the deductibility of dues payment to associations. The portion of dues payment used for lobbying expenses by the association is no longer deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. We have determined that the deductible portion of RWA dues for 2025 may be 90.00%.