[WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act'
All, I thought this word be of interest to the group. Regards, Dawn DiPietro Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act' Says bill would promote affordable rural networks Posted: 7:36 AM, Apr. 25, 2006 Last Updated: 7:45 AM, Apr. 25, 2006 By KTVZ.com news sources WASHINGTON - Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., addressed the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association's Legislative and Policy Conference on Tuesday and outlined his Broadband for America Act of 2006. The proposal is a ‘disciplined' and ‘directed' piece of legislation that the Senate can swiftly pass to promote the construction of new broadband networks in rural America. To succeed in a global marketplace American firms need access to affordable broadband networks, Smith said. Leaving outdated laws on the books stalls job creation and inhibits the introduction of wireless technology that can be utilized in parts of America today's technology will never reach. Today's laws choke job creation with regulation and hold back innovation that proves time and time again to improve consumer's options. Senator Smith's legislation promotes the construction of broadband infrastructure by addressing the following critical issues: --Burdensome Video Regulations: Will allow wireline video providers to compete on equal footing by freeing them of unnecessary federal, state, and local regulations that have inhibited their entrance into the market. The legislation maintains local authority over rights of way and local programming requirements. --Universal Service Reform: Creates a new account to invest $500 million a year in broadband infrastructure for areas private investment are reluctant to reach. Expands USF contributors to include any company capable of supporting 2-way voice communication. Low volume users and low income households would be exempted. --Permanently Exempt USF Fund: Permanently exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Anti-Deficiency Act, allowing programs like the E-rate to continue. --Municipal Broadband: Allows municipalities to band together and offer affordable broadband service in areas where private companies cannot or will not provide service. --Wireless Broadband and White Spaces: Instructs the FCC to issue final rules within six months allocating white spaces on an unlicensed basis along with technical guidelines that prevent radio interference. Final rules will break way for low-cost broadband service, especially in rural areas too expensive to serve by wire. Smith noted, The Broadband for America Act is a targeted legislative package that draws on the best thinking of Senators Rockefeller, Dorgan Allen, Snowe, Lautenberg, McCain and myself. The bill combines my Video Choice Act and Universal Service for the 21st Century Act with Senator Allen's Wireless Innovation Act, Senator Snowe's Anti-Deficiency Act bill and Senator Lautenberg and McCain's Community Broadband Act. http://www.ktvz.com/story.cfm?nav=oregonstoryID=9996 --- --- -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act'
All, A link to the bill mentioned in the article below. http://static.publicknowledge.org/pdf/20060327-house-telecom-print.pdf Regards, Dawn DiPietro Dawn DiPietro wrote: All, I thought this would be of interest to the group. Regards, Dawn DiPietro Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act' Says bill would promote affordable rural networks Posted: 7:36 AM, Apr. 25, 2006 Last Updated: 7:45 AM, Apr. 25, 2006 By KTVZ.com news sources WASHINGTON - Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., addressed the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association's Legislative and Policy Conference on Tuesday and outlined his Broadband for America Act of 2006. The proposal is a ‘disciplined' and ‘directed' piece of legislation that the Senate can swiftly pass to promote the construction of new broadband networks in rural America. To succeed in a global marketplace American firms need access to affordable broadband networks, Smith said. Leaving outdated laws on the books stalls job creation and inhibits the introduction of wireless technology that can be utilized in parts of America today's technology will never reach. Today's laws choke job creation with regulation and hold back innovation that proves time and time again to improve consumer's options. Senator Smith's legislation promotes the construction of broadband infrastructure by addressing the following critical issues: --Burdensome Video Regulations: Will allow wireline video providers to compete on equal footing by freeing them of unnecessary federal, state, and local regulations that have inhibited their entrance into the market. The legislation maintains local authority over rights of way and local programming requirements. --Universal Service Reform: Creates a new account to invest $500 million a year in broadband infrastructure for areas private investment are reluctant to reach. Expands USF contributors to include any company capable of supporting 2-way voice communication. Low volume users and low income households would be exempted. --Permanently Exempt USF Fund: Permanently exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Anti-Deficiency Act, allowing programs like the E-rate to continue. --Municipal Broadband: Allows municipalities to band together and offer affordable broadband service in areas where private companies cannot or will not provide service. --Wireless Broadband and White Spaces: Instructs the FCC to issue final rules within six months allocating white spaces on an unlicensed basis along with technical guidelines that prevent radio interference. Final rules will break way for low-cost broadband service, especially in rural areas too expensive to serve by wire. Smith noted, The Broadband for America Act is a targeted legislative package that draws on the best thinking of Senators Rockefeller, Dorgan Allen, Snowe, Lautenberg, McCain and myself. The bill combines my Video Choice Act and Universal Service for the 21st Century Act with Senator Allen's Wireless Innovation Act, Senator Snowe's Anti-Deficiency Act bill and Senator Lautenberg and McCain's Community Broadband Act. http://www.ktvz.com/story.cfm?nav=oregonstoryID=9996 --- --- --- --- -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
RE: [WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act'
--Universal Service Reform: Creates a new account to invest $500 million a year in broadband infrastructure for areas private investment are reluctant to reach. Expands USF contributors to include any company capable of supporting 2-way voice communication. Low volume users and low income households would be exempted. 1. So who determines what/how/when the areas private investment is neglecting? 2. Who has access to the $500 million to build infrastructure 3. Sounds like some folks are tagging a rider in to take a shot at VOIP --Permanently Exempt USF Fund: Permanently exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Anti-Deficiency Act, allowing programs like the E-rate to continue. --Municipal Broadband: Allows municipalities to band together and offer affordable broadband service in areas where private companies cannot or will not provide service. 1. See #1 above Call me paranoid, but parts of this smell a little fishy. Chris Intelliwave -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act'
That's pretty much what I was thinking. Marlon (509) 982-2181 Equipment sales (408) 907-6910 (Vonage)Consulting services 42846865 (icq)And I run my own wisp! 64.146.146.12 (net meeting) www.odessaoffice.com/wireless www.odessaoffice.com/marlon/cam - Original Message - From: chris cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'WISPA General List' wireless@wispa.org Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 4:46 AM Subject: RE: [WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act' --Universal Service Reform: Creates a new account to invest $500 million a year in broadband infrastructure for areas private investment are reluctant to reach. Expands USF contributors to include any company capable of supporting 2-way voice communication. Low volume users and low income households would be exempted. 1. So who determines what/how/when the areas private investment is neglecting? 2. Who has access to the $500 million to build infrastructure 3. Sounds like some folks are tagging a rider in to take a shot at VOIP --Permanently Exempt USF Fund: Permanently exempts the Universal Service Fund from the Anti-Deficiency Act, allowing programs like the E-rate to continue. --Municipal Broadband: Allows municipalities to band together and offer affordable broadband service in areas where private companies cannot or will not provide service. 1. See #1 above Call me paranoid, but parts of this smell a little fishy. Chris Intelliwave -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
RE: [WISPA] Smith pitches 'Broadband for America Act'
What do they mean by White Spaces? --Wireless Broadband and White Spaces: Instructs the FCC to issue final rules within six months allocating white spaces on an unlicensed basis along with technical guidelines that prevent radio interference. Final rules will break way for low-cost broadband service, especially in rural areas too expensive to serve by wire. -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
