I kinda think that the news about municipal operatoins would provide reasonable evidence why public provision of such is is SUCH a bad idea...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ <insert witty tagline here> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck McCown - 2" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 1:56 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] FCC approves new method for tracking broadband's reach >I guess a benefit I can see (out west here) is that we constantly hear of > the need for government to step in and provide broadband because of the > lack > of such. If there was a comprehensive coverage map, projects like UTOPIA, > iProvo and Philladelphia/Earthlink might not ever launch. They might be > more inclined to allow WISPs to become ETC and USF eligible as well as > become RUS borrowers and POLRs. But first we have to prove we are getting > the job done. Coverage maps are one way to prove that. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2:49 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] FCC approves new method for tracking broadband's > reach > > >> I"m going to repost a response I made privately, leaving off the other >> person... I want to be clear what's really bothering me lately. >> ========== >> >> Maybe I should be more clear. I fail to see why I should have to >> conduct >> even 1 minute's free labor... The results of which are going to result >> absolutely NO benefit to me, and then we'll all get to see some >> politicians >> claim credit for the "spread of broadband", even though that "spread" has >> been solely the result of some of us working our butts off, and risking >> our >> own money and 12 hour days. >> >> I can find absolutely no reason to think that ANY of us are going to >> benefit >> from this. The only people who could possibly benefit, would be the >> Qwest's and the Clearwires of the world, who have publicly financed >> "expansion research" done for them. >> >> I doubt any of us, save a handful who cover large areas, could benefit at >> all. I know I make my expansions based on on-the-ground efforts, going >> to >> door to door and finding out who has broadband, who doesn't and then >> figuring out how to fill the gaps, some of which are as small as a >> housing >> development with 10 houses in it. This will never be figured out by >> the >> FCC or any "agency". I'm DOING the work that needs to be done. Why on >> earth should I do free labor while doing it? >> >> But I'll bet that on a more macro scale, all we do is provide the >> directions >> for bigger guys deciding what towns or cities to deploy in without >> spending >> a dime in research. >> >> I know I buy a lot of $140 (and climbing) tanks of diesel to find areas >> not >> covered and then cover them, and then go to door to door to sign up >> people. >> I have perhaps 20,000 people in my targeted market, which covers >> everything >> from farms and vineyards to forested mountains, and it's an hour and a >> half >> to drive across from the farthest customers now, and in a fe months it's >> going to be close to two hours. >> >> So, why on earth should I then be required to expend more time and effort >> and possibly money, just to tell someone else where to go for free? >> >> Perhaps I'm just irked because the heavy hand of both state and federal >> govenrments is coming down on a lot of what we do - I may soon need a >> contractor's license and AND hire a licensed electrician... to be a WISP, >> of >> all things. If that's the case, my customers will become "unserved". >> And >> there is NOBODY in my corner fighting this either federally or at the >> state >> level. Rather, every organization I've uncovered is just nodding and >> smiling like some lobotomized sheep. >> >> >> >> >> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >> <insert witty tagline here> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Steve Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 1:19 PM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] FCC approves new method for tracking broadband's >> reach >> >> >>>I agree, I would also like to know the position of WISPA. It looks like >>> another great way for some company to make extra income off of my >>> already >>> short bottom line. The current reporting is a pain but can be completed >>> in >>> an hour or so. I am not privileged to have GIS software and data >>> setting >>> around for all my data to interface with. Besides in my area the census >>> track is larger then the ZIP's. So they will get less exact data. >>> >>> Steve Barnes >>> Executive Manager >>> PCS-WIN >>> RCWiFi Wireless Internet Service >>> (765)584-2288 >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >>> Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:00 PM >>> To: WISPA General List >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA]FCC approves new method for tracking broadband's >>> reach >>> >>> I'm curious to know WISPA's official position on this is. >>> >>> Looking back in the archives, I see little discussion about this, but >>> the >>> only way this information is going to be obtained, is if ISP's are >>> required >>> to determine the location of each census unit and then plot on maps of >>> the >>> census unit each customer and count them up. At this moment, I have no >>> idea what a "census unit" is, how it is determined, or even how to find >>> out >>> that information, much less plot hundreds of customers spread over >>> thousands >>> >>> of square miles. Frankly, I haven't the time. >>> >>> Unless software exists to automate this, this is going to be rather >>> man-hour >>> >>> intensive for anyone with more than 20 broadband customers. >>> >>> Is WISPA going to lobby to defend us from this big pile of free labor >>> the >>> FCC wants us to do so they can claim political credit, or are they going >>> to >>> sell us down the river by lobbying for it? It seemed that no organized >>> resistance existed for the first mandate to report, and unless we start >>> defending ourselves from the do-gooders in DC, we're going to end up >>> with >>> mountains of work and nothing but a headache and some legal papers from >>> bankruptcy court to show for it. >>> >>> Every industry I know of is VEHEMENT in telling the federal goverment to >>> back off from mandates... Why does the ISP industry just keep rolling >>> over >>> and getting reamed? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> <insert witty tagline here> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Rick Harnish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> >>> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 6:03 AM >>> Subject: [WISPA] FCC approves new method for tracking broadband's reach >>> >>> >>>> >>>> HYPERLINK "http://www.wispa.org/?p=215"FCC approves new method for >>>> tracking >>>> broadband's reach >>>> >>>> >>>> Filed under: HYPERLINK "http://www.wispa.org/?cat=1"General at 7:02 am >>>> HYPERLINK "http://www.wispa.org/?p=215#respond";(no comments) HYPERLINK >>>> "http://www.wispa.org/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=215";(e) >>>> >>>> WASHINGTON-As expected, federal regulators on Wednesday voted to >>>> overhaul >>>> the way they measure how widely broadband is available across the >>>> United >>>> States. >>>> >>>> For years, the Federal Communications Commission has been drawing up >>>> reports >>>> on the state of U.S. Internet access availability based on methodology >>>> that >>>> considers 200 kilobits per second (Kbps) service to be "high speed"-and >>>> such >>>> access to be widely available even in ZIP codes that may, in reality, >>>> house >>>> only one connection. >>>> >>>> The decision to move away from that methodology is potentially >>>> significant. >>>> Critics, both inside and outside the agency, have charged that the >>>> inadequacy of data that the FCC collects semiannually from Internet >>>> service >>>> providers hinders both the government's ability to set smart >>>> pro-broadband >>>> policies and could slow investment on the technology side. It could >>>> also >>>> help federal regulators determine whether HYPERLINK >>>> "http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9897103-7.html"the United States is >>>> really >>>> as far behind in broadband penetration as some international studies >>>> have >>>> suggested during the past few years. >>>> >>>> If not for good government data, "our economy would come to a >>>> screeching >>>> halt," said Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat. For example, >>>> manufacturers depend on unemployment and gross domestic product figures >>>> to >>>> set their production targets, and schools and hospitals rely on U.S. >>>> Census >>>> numbers to project demand for their services, he said. >>>> >>>> "When companies and investors put money into e-commerce or voice over >>>> Internet Protocol or Internet video.they need to know what kind of >>>> broadband >>>> infrastructure America actually has," Copps said. >>>> >>>> Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said, "This is really the >>>> first >>>> step toward the national broadband strategy that we so desperately >>>> need." >>>> >>>> Despite his support for the new data collection method, FCC Chairman >>>> Kevin >>>> Martin said he believes the United States has made incredible strides >>>> in >>>> broadband deployment since he joined the commission in 2001, with the >>>> number >>>> of lines growing from 9 million to more than 100 million. Still, he >>>> acknowledged, "there is certainly more work to be done." >>>> >>>> The FCC, as is typical, won't release the full text of the changes it >>>> adopted for a few weeks, but here's a rundown of major components >>>> described >>>> at Wednesday's meeting: >>>> >>>> . 200Kbps speeds are no longer considered "broadband." Until this >>>> point, >>>> the >>>> FCC has considered any service that produces 200Kbps speeds in the >>>> upload >>>> or >>>> download direction to be "high speed." With Wednesday's vote, that >>>> methodology is no more. Now, 768Kbps, which is the entry-level speed >>>> offered >>>> by major DSL providers like Verizon, will be considered the low end of >>>> "basic broadband," a range that extends to under 1.5Mbps. >>>> . Broadband service speeds will have to be reported both for uploads >>>> and >>>> downloads. Previously the FCC had six big categories of broadband >>>> speeds, >>>> and they effectively only tracked download speeds. Now the agency says >>>> it >>>> will require reporting on upload speeds. Pro-regulatory advocacy groups >>>> like >>>> Free Press say that's a necessary step in part because of HYPERLINK >>>> "http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9872464-38.html"Comcast's admitted >>>> throttling of peer-to-peer file-sharing uploads. >>>> . Upload and download speeds will have to be reported in a more >>>> specific >>>> way. At the moment, the broadband speeds most commonly offered by cable >>>> and >>>> telephone companies are lumped into two major categories: those between >>>> 200Kbps and 2.5Mbps, and those between 2.5Mbps and 10Mbps. The FCC's >>>> new >>>> rules would require them to be broken down further, in an attempt to >>>> address >>>> charges that the current buckets have the potential to overstate the >>>> number >>>> of high-end subscriptions and understate the number of low-end >>>> subscriptions. Those new tiers will be: 1) 200Kbps to 768Kbps ("first >>>> generation data"); 2) 768Kbps to 1.5Mbps ("basic broadband"); 3) >>>> 1.5Mbps >>>> to >>>> 3Mbps; 4) 3Mbps to 6Mbps; and 5) 6Mbps and above. >>>> . ISPs will be required to report numbers of subscribers, and at the >>>> census-block level. Under the current methodology, ISPs report only the >>>> number of ZIP codes in which they have at least one subscriber, and >>>> they >>>> report numbers of lines nationwide. Now they'll have to report the >>>> number >>>> of >>>> subscribers in each census tract they serve, broken down by speed tier. >>>> The >>>> FCC decided to use census tracts because researchers may be able to use >>>> other demographic statistics collected by the U.S. Census, such as age >>>> and >>>> income level, to gain insight about what drives broadband penetration >>>> rates. >>>> . ISPs will not have to report the prices they charge..yet. Democratic >>>> commissioners and liberal consumer advocacy groups had argued such a >>>> step >>>> is >>>> necessary to give consumers an idea of the value they're getting for >>>> their >>>> money-and to compare U.S. prices to those for comparable services >>>> abroad. >>>> Copps said on Wednesday that he continues to believe it's a "mistake" >>>> to >>>> omit that requirement, and Adelstein also voiced concern. But a >>>> majority >>>> of >>>> the commissioners opted to push that decision off until another time >>>> and >>>> gather more comments. >>>> >>>> Each of the five commissioners voted in favor of adopting the order, >>>> although some attached reservations about some portions of the rules. >>>> Adelstein said he would have liked to see the commission require that >>>> ISPs >>>> distinguish between residential and business customers when doing their >>>> reporting. Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell said he was >>>> concerned >>>> that some of the definitions contained in the rules-particularly that >>>> of >>>> broadband-could have negative long-term effects. >>>> >>>> "Government cannot outguess the genius of free markets, nor should it >>>> try," >>>> McDowell said. >>>> >>>> Representatives from the cable and telephone industry had advised the >>>> commission against making major changes to its data collection methods. >>>> They >>>> said they would not be able to comment on the FCC's vote Wednesday >>>> until >>>> after reviewing the full text of the order. >>>> >>>> The old method's last gasp >>>> In an ironic twist, at the same meeting, the commissioners narrowly >>>> voted >>>> to >>>> adopt the FCC's latest report about the state of American broadband >>>> deployment-except based on the old methodology that they went on to >>>> revamp. >>>> Because of that, Copps and Adelstein ripped apart the report and said >>>> they >>>> couldn't support its conclusions. (Martin, McDowell, and Republican >>>> Deborah >>>> Tate voted for adoption of the document.) >>>> >>>> The HYPERLINK >>>> "http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280906A1.pdf"report >>>> (PDF), which covers the first half of 2007, concluded that "broadband >>>> services are currently being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable >>>> and >>>> timely fashion." >>>> >>>> High-speed lines-meaning, mind you, capable of 200Kbps or greater data >>>> transfer speeds-grew from 82 million to 100 million lines during that >>>> time, >>>> the FCC said. Its report also found that an Internet service provider >>>> reported having at least one connection in 99 percent of the country's >>>> ZIP >>>> codes, and that 99 percent of the American population lives in those >>>> ZIP >>>> codes. >>>> >>>> Copps, for one, called the ZIP code methodology "stunningly >>>> meaningless." >>>> >>>> "I'm happy we're starting to change our benchmarks," he said, "but my >>>> goodness, how late in the day it is." >>>> >>>> The FCC's actions drew mixed reviews from groups who have been pressing >>>> for >>>> better broadband data and Net neutrality rules. >>>> >>>> Gigi Sohn, the president of Public Knowledge, one such group, commended >>>> the >>>> FCC's new data collection plan, although she said she would have >>>> preferred >>>> to see price data included and information about residential and >>>> commercial >>>> customers separated. She also deemed it a "mystery" that the FCC also >>>> chose >>>> to issue the broadband availability report "when, mere moments later, >>>> the >>>> Commission admitted the inadequacy of the information." >>>> >>>> WASHINGTON-As expected, federal regulators on Wednesday voted to >>>> overhaul >>>> the way they measure how widely broadband is available across the >>>> United >>>> States. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> No virus found in this outgoing message. >>>> Checked by AVG. >>>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.10/1421 - Release Date: >>>> 5/7/2008 >>>> 5:23 PM >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> ---- >>>> WISPA Wants You! 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