I think people get too worked up over nothing.
---------- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 2:55 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA]FCC approves new method for tracking broadband’s reach > They have EVERY FREAKING CHOICE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. > > They could hire a research company to physically find out and map it. > they > could poll the public and extrapolate. They could do ANY number of > things > that are NOT invasive to my business, my time, and my money. > > And instead of filing 2000 responses to the FCC telling them to "TAKE A > LONG > WALK OFF A SHORT PIER, WE'RE NOT YOUR SLAVES!!!!" instead we're here > trying to console each other or something? > > It is not only perfect and right in THESE UNITD STATES to tell the > government to get back in line, it is our civic duty. Congress has every > right to tell the FCC to find out information. The FCC has no right > whatsoever to demand we do its work for for free. > > And so, yes. We SHOULD object. Tell them HELL NO WE WILL NOT. And then > back it by by NOT. > > Guess what, they'll do their jobs the right way then. > > What I want to know is who thinks they're going to benefit from playing > footsies with the FCC? That's a one way street. We give, they take. > Repeat ad nauseum. Maybe if we gave them some headaches, they'd think > twice before they screwed us over repeatedly. > > > > > > > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > <insert witty tagline here> > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marlon K. Schafer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:47 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA]FCC approves new method for tracking broadband’s reach > > >> That's not quite accurate. There is a law on the books that directs the >> FCC >> to find out such info. They have no choice. >> >> And, unfortunately, far too many people have ignored the reporting >> requirement so the numbers that the FCC has collected are pretty >> worthless. >> Everyone knows it. >> >> We are simply reaping what we've sown. >> marlon >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "WISPA General List" >> <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:43 PM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA]FCC approves new method for tracking broadband’s >> reach >> >> >>> Sigh. >>> >>> I am in an industry filled with jellyfish. >>> >>> It is unbelievably depressing. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> <insert witty tagline here> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Brian Webster" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:37 PM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA]FCC approves new method for tracking broadband’s >>> reach >>> >>> >>>> There are ways to do this in GIS software and I thought I heard mention >>>> that the FCC was going to provide a site to do this as well. The census >>>> block is the smallest sized geographic polygon that they use as a unit >>>> of >>>> study at the Census Bureau. You can download the raw data and create >>>> them >>>> yourself. The process will be to geocode (address to lat-long match) >>>> your >>>> customer address list then overlay that with the census block data. >>>> Most >>>> GIS >>>> tools will then be able to add a column with the census block ID each >>>> customer falls within. The exceptions to this will be PO boxes since >>>> they >>>> will not geocode properly to the actual customer location. >>>> If the FCC can not provide a tool to do this I am sure I can figure >>>> something out that we could provide to paid WISPA members. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thank You, >>>> Brian Webster >>>> www.wirelessmapping.com <http://www.wirelessmapping.com> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> 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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