Thank you, all of you, who worked with WISPA to get those comments on
the 04-186 issue. We all owe a special thanks to our new friend Frannie
Wellings at Free Press also. She has been absolutely key in helping make
this issue appear on the legislative radar. The dream may actually come
true here guys. Please read this in its entirety. I will likely be
calling on you again soon as this issue gains steam.
Kindest regards,
John Scrivner
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Great news! We now have two unlicensed bills in the senate.
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:48:36 -0500
From: Frannie Wellings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: John Scrivner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi John,
We've had some positive developments in the Senate and I thought you and
all of the wonderful folks from the WISP community who called and
e-mailed their senators would want to know.
On Friday, February 17th, two bills were introduced in the Senate that
would help to open the white spaces. Both bills direct the Federal
Communications Commission to move quickly to free-up the empty broadcast
channels for unlicensed use so that they can be used for wireless broadband.
Senators George Allen (R-VA), John Kerry (D-MA), John Sununu (R-NH) and
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced a bi-partisan bill entitled the Wireless
Innovation Act of 2006 (WINN Act). Senate Commerce Committee Chairman
Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced the American Broadband for Communities Act
(ABC Act).
The two bills are very similar and ideally the Senators will join
together behind one bill. We're so lucky to have five senators taking
action here and expect more to sign on. This is really an important step
and the input from the WISP community has been remarkably valuable.
Please thank everyone who took the time to get involved. They should be
encouraged that their calls matter and they really should know that
their comments in the 04-186 docket are really key. I'm so glad that so
many WISPs submitted comments.
I might be coming back to you soon asking for the WISPs to call their
senators in support of unlicensed spectrum as we see what happens with
the two bills. Hopefully they will join into one bill then we have to
get that bill passed in the Commerce Committee and then the full Senate.
Thanks again for all of your help.
Best,
Frannie
P.S. - Here are some statements from the Senators...
Senator Kerry has been an important leader on this issue, working hard
to introduce legislation to open the white spaces. He said of the
legislation, "Instead of just talking about it, we need to make
affordable broadband a reality everywhere.... Making this technology
available in all corners of our country is good for our families,
demonstrates the spirit of American innovation and promotes our success
in the global economy."
Senator Allen said of the WINN Act, "This legislation will enable
entrepreneurs to provide affordable, competitive high-speed wireless
broadband services in areas that otherwise have no connectivity to
broadband Internet."
Senator Stevens, the chairman of the key committee, stated: "Allowing
unlicensed operations in the broadcast band could play a significant
role in bringing wireless broadband and home networking to more of our
citizens by lowering costs, particularly in Alaska where connectivity is
so important due to our remoteness."
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