>We're all taxpayers, get off my back > already! I'm a little confused on your response. Nobody is on your back. We are just discussing possible point of views on Broadband policy.
I'm also not exactly clear what you are calling the "terrible" idea. Joining the NBS table for debate? Raising minimul requirements for what is considered "Broadband"? Or Raising it to a level that disqualifies ILEC DSL? Or trying to incourage investment in WISPs? The first thing to understand is what could be an advantageous purpose to change definition of "broadband" to a higher standard. The second is figuring out what that number should be to NOT disqualify WISPs. I am open to feedback from you, on what your opinions are, so we can decide on a WISPA policy for those questions. But "terrible idea" doesn't really help us define a possition does it? Are you saying it should stay the way it is now? I can tell you that isn't going to happen. There is a huge force working to change the definition, and it will likely be changed. Our only hope is to influence it to be a number that will be the lease harmful to WISPs. I agree that raising the definition of Broadband has little benefit to WISPs, but we do not live in a world ruled by WISPs. We have to fight for evey little thing we can get, and it will likely be a compromise. What I pointed out was one possible benefit of disqualifying DSL. I had a real world situation that applied to my logic. For example, lets look at the RUS grants. RUS requires that a WISP find an unserved area. So that left 3 communities in my state. So I spent 6 month prepairing my grant application. But the rules are, even ifan area was underserved at teh time of a grant application, if the area becomes served before the Grant is issued (like a 1 year period after worlds) it will disqualify your grant. And technically anywhere there is a physical phone line, it is possible for an RBOC to call an area "served" by Broadband, after a few hours of upgrades. Telephone lines are EVERYWHERE. There is no requirement to have availabilty to ALL homes in an area to call it served, nor a percent build out plan. In our case, Verizon decided to build out and provide Broadband to 2 homes, in order to disqualify our area as underserved. It didn't happen exactly like that, but that is the summerized version. My point is that if any Grant programs were made targeted only to underserved areas, it is 100% in the control of the RBOC to disqualify that grant from occuring, based on the current definition of "underserved" and "broadband". Sure RUS grants and loans have been issued, but it was a gift by the RBOC, to allow those grants to be given by RUS, simply because it was simply either off teh RBOC's radar, or an area the RBOC had no desire to serve. Be aware that many people on the Coalition would have liked to see 20-100mbps minimum speeds for the definition. They probably think 10mbps was a compromise. As there is clearly a focus to incourage legislation that fosters Fiber Optic expansion, that will give the largest benefit to consumers, and have the most longevity into the century. I think it would be a HUGE victory to bring these guys back into the capabilty of WISPs, into the 3mbps range. Atleast 1.5 mbps range. However, if you think it should be less than that, its going to take a really good arguement, to keep it that way. And if a position is just unreasonablee to compromise, it will jsut be ignored, as the other lobbying forces are stronger. WISPs don;t want to be painted as the providers that hold down innovation and the consumer experience. The other option is to suggest the branding of a new name. For example, "HD broadband", or "Broadband2" and incourage gants and tax incentives for people that build those newer faster technologies. But that also, I think would be a bad deal. We don;t want to do anything that incourages incentives for others that would not include WISPs. It would be best to find a happy medium that would include WISPs, and partially meet the needs of consumer advocates. However, I'm going to stop there, as this is really a topic best for the Member's List, not the open public. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 5:08 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article > That is a TERRIBLE idea. > > To chop our noses off for the chance to wallow at the DC trough? Please. > > It would be far more in our favor if we could get better tax treatment on > capital investment, if there were easier rules to deal with trading shares > of our companies to investors, if we had gaurantees that we would not be > mandated to do anything expensive, so we could have some kind of > confidence > in our business models... > > Those are FAR more conducive to the success of all of us, than to put a > majority of us outside the standard of 'broadband' in return for a handful > sucking at the taxpayer teat in DC - We're all taxpayers, get off my back > already! > > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > <insert witty tagline here> > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 1:59 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article > > >>I agree, and one of my concerns with the coalition, is that defining >> broadband as 10mbps would be bad for WISPs. >> Rick is aware of these concerns. Please recognize that being a member of >> teh >> Coalition does not mean we endorse all their initial ideas for policies. >> It simply means we endorse the intent of the group, to work togeather to >> compromise and debate the best national broadband policy. >> WISPA being a member of the group is what allows WISPA to influence and >> educate the group on WISPs, and one issue to heavilly push influence, is >> to >> change their viewpoint on the minimum speed qualified as Broadband. >> 10mbps >> is way to high, and if that position stayed long term, I'd probably >> eventually have to drop endorsement for the group. >> But I believe raising teh requirement for "broadband" above DSL typical >> speed is critical, in order to help get WISP's grants and and Tax >> incentives. >> If we can disqualify typical DSL as Broadband (sub 3 mbps), it opens the >> door wide open to call so many more markets "underserved" and worthy to >> invest in WISP's deployment of such markets. >> >> >> Tom DeReggi >> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:40 PM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article >> >> >>> And which telco is this going to bail out? Money from Congress to >>> industry = pay off Unions for votes. >>> >>> We will never, ever, ever, ever qualify. >>> >>> Another headliner article I read on this will redefine "broadband" as >>> over >>> 10 Meg. >>> >>> Nothing like disqualifying almost the entire WISP industry... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> <insert witty tagline here> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Rick Harnish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> >>> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:20 AM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article >>> >>> >>>> Jeff, >>>> >>>> Just to let you know, I am in Washington DC this week participating in >>>> the >>>> events below. WISPA has signed on as a supporter of the Call to Action >>>> to >>>> define the Nationwide Broadband Strategy. It was great to see all the >>>> players of the Broadband Industry working together to attempt to bring >>>> the >>>> US back up to the top of the Broadband Access ladder. It will be a >>>> busy >>>> three months while this strategy is defined and presented to the Obama >>>> Administration. >>>> >>>> Respectfully, >>>> >>>> Rick Harnish >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >>>> Behalf Of Jeff Broadwick >>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 1:21 PM >>>> To: 'WISPA General List' >>>> Subject: [WISPA] Article >>>> >>>> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203 >>>> 164_pf.html >>>> >>>> New Coalition Drawing Up Nationwide Broadband Access Strategy >>>> >>>> By Cecilia Kang >>>> Washington Post Staff Writer >>>> Wednesday, December 3, 2008; D03 >>>> >>>> President-elect Barack Obama has said getting affordable high-speed >>>> Internet >>>> service to every American home would create jobs, fuel economic growth >>>> and >>>> spark innovation. Yesterday, representatives from technology and >>>> telecommunications companies, labor unions and public interest groups >>>> frequently at odds with one another agreed to provide the next >>>> president >>>> with a roadmap for how to accomplish those goals. >>>> >>>> That map could include tax breaks, low-interest loans, subsidies and >>>> public-private partnerships to encourage more investments in upgrading >>>> and >>>> building out high-speed networks, representatives from Google, AT&T and >>>> public interest group Free Press said during a panel discussion on >>>> broadband >>>> policy that also served as a coming-out party for their newly formed >>>> coalition. >>>> >>>> The details of how to meet those goals still must be worked out by the >>>> group, whose aim is to bring more affordable high-speed Internet access >>>> to >>>> every consumer. >>>> >>>> Many of the group members have been at odds with each other on whether >>>> the >>>> government should set limits on how much spectrum a company can hold, >>>> the >>>> use of unlicensed devices on fallow broadcast airwaves and net >>>> neutrality -- >>>> the notion that network operators should be prevented from blocking or >>>> slowing Internet traffic. The formation of the group is an effort to >>>> move >>>> beyond their differences. >>>> >>>> "The coalition is a positive in that it demonstrates we agree that we >>>> have >>>> a >>>> broadband problem, which not everyone was willing to admit to two years >>>> ago," said Ben Scott, policy director at Free Press and a member of the >>>> group. "The key is whether we'll see this group produce policy >>>> solutions >>>> that will require difficult choices." >>>> >>>> At stake is the nation's ability to compete technologically and >>>> economically, the group said. The United States has dropped from the >>>> top >>>> 10 >>>> nations for broadband access, speeds and price in the last several >>>> years. >>>> The coalition is pushing for a federal plan that would provide access >>>> to >>>> high-speed Internet service, much as the government did with >>>> electricity, >>>> roads and phone service. >>>> >>>> Obama famously used the Internet for outreach during his campaign and >>>> received 370,000 donations online. He's proposed using blogs, social >>>> networking tools and community Web pages known as wikis to connect >>>> citizens >>>> to government agencies. And Obama has argued for massive upgrades to >>>> technology infrastructure such as high-speed, or broadband, Internet. >>>> >>>> So far the coalition's plans to increase broadband usage mirrors >>>> Obama's >>>> plan, but there could be disagreement over deployment, analysts said. >>>> >>>> Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen said the union >>>> supports a proposal by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) to >>>> increase >>>> definitions for broadband to 10 megabits per second for downloads by >>>> 2010. >>>> The current definition for broadband speed in the United States is 768 >>>> kilobits per second downstream, which is far below standards in many >>>> other >>>> nations. >>>> >>>> Achieving that goal at prices acceptable to consumers, however, would >>>> be >>>> expensive for telecom and cable network operators. Some in the >>>> coalition >>>> could push for laws that would achieve lower prices and higher speeds >>>> through more wireless and telecom competitors, but that could cause >>>> further >>>> disagreement among members, Scott said. >>>> >>>> Some have already suggested requesting funds from the federal economic >>>> stimulus plan for broadband deployment. Yesterday, an aide to House >>>> Speaker >>>> Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Pelosi was in favor of that idea. >>>> >>>> AT&T chief lobbyist Jim Cicconi said the company has moved closer to >>>> the >>>> view of public interest groups and Google that the Web should be open >>>> for >>>> all users without discrimination of technology and content on their >>>> network. >>>> But unlike Free Press and consumer groups, AT&T opposes new laws or >>>> rules >>>> on >>>> net neutrality, saying Federal Communications Commission rules are >>>> sufficient, and any violation should be handled on a case-by-case >>>> basis. >>>> >>>> "There will be significant outstanding debates that will be very tough >>>> and >>>> there will still be daylight between the groups on many, many issues," >>>> said >>>> Rebecca Arbogast, an analyst at investment firm Stifel Nicolaus. "But >>>> both >>>> sides are in a phase right now where they are emphasizing how much they >>>> share in terms of their views on what is an appropriate framework for >>>> looking at this issue." >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Jeff Broadwick >>>> Sales Manager, ImageStream >>>> 800-813-5123 x106 (US/Can) >>>> +1 574-935-8484 x106 (Int'l) >>>> +1 574-935-8488 (Fax) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> ---- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> ---- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! 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