Plan a project

Reported deployment

Reported Fort Worth ISD private LTE network for student home internet in Fort Worth, Texas

A BearCom case study; outcomes are vendor-reported and not independent measurements.

Reviewed Sep 30, 20266 sourced facts
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Details

Organization
Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)
Industry
K-12 education
Region
Fort Worth, Texas
Current operating status
Operating on trailer- and rooftop-mounted radios while permanent monopoles are permitted (January 2022)
Not stated by sources
Project date

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Overview

Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) in Texas worked with integrator BearCom to build its own private LTE network on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum so students without home internet could reach the district's network from home.[1] BearCom said in January 2022 that it and its partners had a core network and four radio sites online within 60 days, using 12 trailer-mounted Airspan radios while the district sought permits for permanent monopoles on school property.[1] The district was to own all of the infrastructure and host the network core in its own data center, and families receive Cradlepoint routers that can reach only the district's firewalled network.[2][3] A March 2024 district technology plan still listed deploying private LTE for student internet access as a work in progress.[4]

At a glance

Organization
Fort Worth Independent School District, which BearCom describes as the fifth-largest district in Texas.[1]
Location
Fort Worth, Texas. BearCom does not name the four initial radio sites.[1] The Fort Worth Report said in July 2021 that the district planned temporary tower sites at Dunbar High School, Morningside Middle School, and Rosemont Middle School in the southeast part of the district.[5]
Date reported
Plans reported July 5, 2021;[5] BearCom reported the network operating on January 20, 2022.[1]
Spectrum
CBRS General Authorized Access (GAA), with CommScope providing the Spectrum Access System.[3][2]
Technology
Private LTE with Airspan CBRS radios (CBSDs) and Open RAN technology, a core hosted in the district's data center, and SIM-based Cradlepoint home routers.[3][2]
Scale as reported
Twelve CBSDs across four sites at launch; in January 2022 BearCom said the district aimed to connect up to 4,000 under-served students during the first quarter.[1][3] The Fort Worth Report said the district's first phase was expected to cost no more than $3.6 million.[5]
Vendors and roles
BearCom: integrator, building the network and monopoles. Airspan: CBRS radios (CBSDs) and Open RAN technology. CommScope: Spectrum Access System. Cradlepoint: SIM-based home routers. Athonet: named as a participating vendor; its specific role is not stated in the sources we reviewed.[1][3][2]
Funding
A bond and the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund, according to BearCom; the Cradlepoint routers were bought with Emergency Connectivity Fund money.[1][2] In 2021 the Fort Worth Report described funding from a voter-approved tax rate increase and federal COVID-19 stimulus money.[5]
Status
Operating as of January 2022, according to BearCom.[1] The district's March 5, 2024 technology framework listed private LTE deployment as a work in progress.[4] We found no later public update.

How the network is used

  • Home internet for under-served students on district-issued laptops and tablets, limited to the district's firewalled network.[1][2]
  • The Fort Worth Report said the district planned eventually to build towers in seven of its poorest ZIP codes, starting with students in greatest need.[5]

Reported results

As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.

  • BearCom says owning the network and placing radios on district monopoles avoids subscription fees and leases over the long term. This is the integrator's claim; no cost figures were published.[1]
  • No measured usage or performance results were published.[1][3]

Timeline

  1. FWISD's technology framework lists deploying private LTE for student internet access as a work in progress.[4]

  2. BearCom reports the core network and four radio sites online within 60 days, operating while monopole permits are pending.[1]

  3. The Benton Institute summarizes a Fierce Wireless report on the network.[2]

  4. The Fort Worth Report describes FWISD's plan for temporary tower sites at three southeast Fort Worth schools, to be replaced by permanent towers.[5]

How to interpret this record

This record keeps the source's anonymous customer label and reported status. A case study does not establish current operation, reproducible performance, or independent verification.

Sources

Researched Oct 1, 2026. Manufacturer and vendor statements are their claims, not independent tests.

  1. BearCom Helps Build Sustainable CBRS Network — BearCom, Jan 20, 2022. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  2. Fort Worth, Texas school district builds sustainable CBRS network — Benton Institute for Broadband & Society (summarizing Fierce Wireless), Jan 12, 2022. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  3. Fort Worth Independent School District (case study) — Airspan Networks. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  4. Technology Framework — Fort Worth Independent School District, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Mar 5, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  5. Fort Worth ISD plans to broadcast internet into students' homes. Two area districts show it's a difficult task. — Fort Worth Report, Jul 5, 2021. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.

Every detail in the table at the top comes from these sources. Open the source details for each fact’s publisher, evidence type, date, and where it appears.

Source details (6)
SOURCEOrganization

Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: The Solution: A Private LTE Network by BearComChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEIndustry

K-12 education

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Section on the 60-day buildChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCERegion

Fort Worth, Texas

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: The Solution: A Private LTE Network by BearComChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEOperating status

operating on trailer- and rooftop-mounted radios while permanent monopoles are permitted (January 2022)

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Quote from Gary Ash, BearComChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEReported use case

home internet for under-served students, restricted to the district's firewalled network

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Section on the 60-day buildChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEVendors Named

BearCom (integrator), Airspan (CBRS eNodeBs), Athonet, CommScope, Cradlepoint

BearCom ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: The Solution: A Private LTE Network by BearComChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated