WOW - if only the soapbox was really gone. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 1:24 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article
And I won't be. I was once and put money into WISPA. When I think WISPA has the interests of all WISPS in mind when they act, then I'll financially support it. When WISPA goes to washington DC and represents to them, that we actually WANT to be regulated, I cannot support them. When WISPA consistently fights FOR all of us, and not just the narrow interests of those who want federal money or whatever, then I may again support WISPA financially. When the attitude that "consolidation and shaking out the smaller players" is a good thing goes away, then there's on more barrier down. It may not be official, but people who make decisions in WISPA have said that in the past. Sorry, you lost me with that one. Small business and "mom and pop" are the backbone of our economy and make up a huge segment of all the jobs in the whole country. Every other industry organization unabashedly opposes everything that costs them or can harm them, but the leadership continues to insist that somehow playing nice and agreeing to mandates and costs will buy us favor... All that happens is the mandates and agreements happen, the regulators change and all the "goodwill" supposedly bought evaportes, with the precedents and whatnot remain. Until they understand that Washington DC is NEVER our friend, never to be trusted, then we're just sheep waiting to get shorn. Until this fundamental approach changes, no way in good conscience can I put my name on what they do or give them money. Sorry, that's just my opinion and it's not subject to "revision and extension". This same attitude is going on still. WISPA leadership is still talking about trying to out maneuver the big boys so as to make grants and loans available. Cripes. Yeah, like we're ever going to win the arm twisting contest to bend it in our direction? We don't collectively have that much money or lobbyists tin DC to get our names to the top of the rolodexes. We cannot win that fight with those rules. We have got to start selling the value of a thriving and diverse industry that exists solely due to lack of regulation and lack of governmental interference and that the big players cannot play our game effectively and that betting on the big guys is like buying Enron or Lehman stock. We will never be the providers to the masses, but there can never be affordable ubiquitous broadband without us. That might take some thought and creativity to compose the narration and it might take some skill to sell, but there's simply no rebuttal from Verizon that FIOS is ever going to make a lick of sense in a wide array of places. Or that in an era when Congress really, REALLY needs to get their fiscal act in order, that blowing vast sums to reach few people makes sense. It has to be about selling the value of who and what you are and why you are, not out muscling the big guys for a slice of pie. That can't be won. Further, it obliterations the differences between us and them. That DIFFERENCE is our strength, not our weakness. If you're not thinking in those terms, then some re-thinking needs to happen. What will attract membership is a consistent, clear message about how we have and are building a thriving and healthy industry, even in these economic times, due to the fact that WE ARE NOT THEM and then selling exactly who we are. The people coming back form DC need to talking about how they sold us so well that when we say we need protection from mandates and expensive intrusions, that they listened. The idea of going to DC and being a "we threw a toothpick in the cogs of the big guys and got some money for us" is self defeating. We need to be proactive, not reactive, we need a coherent message and a coherent brand. We need to be defensive of the very thing that makes it possible for our numbers to multiply - freedom to do business without regulatory overhead. We need to not be attempting to joust with the cable operators and telcos over what they want. We need to present something more compelling than "feed our gaping maw so we c an continue our mediocre performance" that the othe guys play. And no, don't tell me to "run for WISPA office". Agitators like myself don't win popularity contests. Besides, I won't put my name on the organization until it changes. I prefer poking a stick in the hornets nest, to letting stuff go along quietly. I've never found that emulating someone else is the sure-fire way to beat them. That is not conducive to winning anything. Go for the whole banana, go for broke, or don't bother. Lead, follow, or get out of the way... I spent the first half of my life being compliant and found life has gotten too short. So, love me or hate me, but for pity's sakes, grow a spine and act like real men with original ideas when you go to lobby DC. The world is so absent real leadership that even the mediocre would stand out if they make an effort these days. I am firmly convinced you could make a serious impact if you think outside the box of present conventions. The whole notion of "raising broadband's definition" to justify federal handouts to industry is so small, so weak, such tired thinking that surely a better notion can be sold. Of course, if that's the best the "membership" can come up with... hell, we probably deserve our fate.. Ok, soapbox gone... I am ever so late today... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ <insert witty tagline here> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Butch Evans" <[email protected]> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 6:45 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Article > On Wed, 3 Dec 2008, Tom DeReggi wrote: > >>I am open to feedback from you, on what your opinions are, so we >>can decide on a WISPA policy for those questions. > > Tom, don't get caught up in arguments with him. He is not a WISPA > member (unless that's changed) and as such, his opinion is NOT valid > in shaping WISPA policy. That is a member's right, not his. > > -- > ******************************************************************** > * Butch Evans * Professional Network Consultation* > * http://www.butchevans.com/ * Network Engineering * > * http://www.wispa.org/ * WISPA Board Member * > * http://blog.butchevans.com/ * Wired or Wireless Networks * > ******************************************************************** > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > > WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! 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