Mark Koskenmaki wrote:
>
>Never say never, they say. What will you do when the FCC or FBI
comes and
>says " we want you to help us enforce... blah blah"? You're going
to have
>a hard time saying "no" when you have already made a policy of always
saying
>"yes". You will have to "blow" that non-existent 'goodwill'. It wont'
>have bought us or anyone else a thing. How many times must I say it? It
>would be far better to have a solidly honest position of ALWAYS
standing up
>for our industry, in everywhere way, in opposition to EVERYTHING negative.
First, let me say that there is no going to DC and standing up for this
Industry.
It is barely an Industry. And with 200 paid members out of 2000 possible
WISP's, it is not very representative. Plus you have Part-15 and its
agenda. You have Vendors and their agenda. You have the so-called "Big
Boys" like NextWeb, Clearwire, ELN or whomever - and thiner agenda. And
if by some stroke of luck, energy and effort, you could get them all to
back your one principle, even then - and with money in the bank - it
would be a wasted effort to spend John's, Marlon's and Rick's own money
to go to DC to "Stand Up". Because someone would break ranks for a deal
or good will or whatever.
Ask Frank Muto. You have to have Leverage to Stand Up. And a significant
number behind you who are willing and demonstrate a willingness to
support. Um, we don't have that here.
DC is not the Town Hall. DC is layers upon layers of subterfuge. You
need a full-time well-connected lobbyist. IN a former life, we hired a
well-connected lobbyist to ask Karl Rove if Indie ISP's had a chance (in
2005). This was about the time of Brand-X and Forbearance. The lobbyist
gave us the check back with a solemn look. A lobbyist returned money.
What does THAT tell you?
I hired a PR firm to craft 14 template letters that just needed a
signature, a name and an address to be faxed to Congress. Do you know
how many times it was downloaded? 15. Yeah.
SO tell me again how WISPA with 200 paid members should Stand Up?
I'd love to hear the plan, because the one I used obviously did not work.
>
> I am not advocating "shunning the rules". I am advocating telling those
> making up the rules as they go, TO BACK OFF BECAUSE THEY ARE
> COUNTERPRODUCTIVE! It is both our privilege and our duty to tell
them to
> back off when they cross their proper boundaries. And we should be
utterly
> unafraid to do so.
Actually all your speeches have been about shunning the rules and you
have stated you will not comply.
That may not be your message, but that is what you have written.
No one is tar and feathering you. But look at this perspective: You want
people to spend their time and money to travel to DC to do something for
you. When they want to go to DC and become Advocates and open doors for
WISPA to work with the gov't. (Which is a worthwhile endeavor).
You could go to DC and say we want money to comply - or something like
that. But you might as well phone it in and save the money for all it
will do.
One more point: When we have sessions on DC and Lobbying at ISPCON, NO
ONE SHOWS UP!
When ISP-CEO discusses politics, it empties the room. (So, Frank, no
politics this May, okay?)
Just my 25 cents worth,
Peter @ RAD-INFO, Inc.
--
WISPA Wireless List: [email protected]
Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
