InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[blueskywaves]

802.16a is considered the next step beyond Wi-Fi because it is optimised for broadband operation, fixed and later mobile, in the wide area network (WAN).

If I recall correctly, IDCC first got involved with 802.16 in late 1999 or early 2000 when the WiFi (802.11) US installed base was less than 500,000. Since then Cisco bought Linksys (sales of about $200M-$300M) for about $500M in stock and NetGear (sales of about $200M) filed for an IPO. Microsoft and Intel have also entered the WiFi market.

From the company website:

Company management and engineers have or are currently serving in a number of leadership positions in key industry standards bodies including...

Chair of the IEEE 802.16 Tga (Broadband Wireless Access, 2-11GHz);

Chair of the 802.16 Mobile Study Group;
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/16/

Vice Chair of the 3GPP RAN Working Group 3 (WG3);

Vice Chair of T1P1.4 Wireless Wideband Internet Access;

North American Rapporteur for ITU-R IMT-2000 Deployment Handbook;

Editor, 3GPP RAN WG1, Physical Layer Procedures (TDD) (R5) and
Editor and Rapporteur, 3GPP RAN WG4, TDD Base Station Classification.