No... People think they need Internet access, as much as they need electricity. I can tell you, in our county, the foreclosure rate is out the roof. When people are fighting to keep their homes, they learn that they can always check their Email at work, and they'd rather spend their money at home on Food, and keeping their house. Some people I know are choosing to go without electricity as well. Customers that get the Verizon bundles (voice/data under one low catch price bill) are exploring their options. The calls I get are... "What term commmitment do we have for our Broadband?". "We like you and your service, and don't want to change, but we need to cut back, and our service will be almost free, if we take the Verizon Bundle.". Truth is I don't worry to much, because I know that all they received was a flyer, and they won't qualify for the DSL service. 95% of the people that gave 30 days notice came back crawling within a few weeks, to cancel their cancellation and reinstate their service. (Which I make them re-sign a 1 yr agreement, to do so, without me raising their rate).
But my point is.... I'm not loosing customer volume, we are growing. Every month, we have more than the month before. But its not "guaranteed" for that to occur. I want the mechanisms in place that will help "guarantee" that. That means owning infrastructure eventually without payments. It means building customer awareness that WISPs are here to stay, so Lending opportunities will continue to be available and rise for WISPs. I'm 100% in agreeance with Travis's leasing model. But our industry is nowhere near where it needs to be, that Leasing approval is as easy as it needs to be, for us to count on it being there when we need it down the road, and now. Everyday, I turn away low ARPU customers. I tell them, I have the abilty to serve them, but I can't, because I'm not a bank, and I need to reserve my cash for the High ARPU deployments. I tell them, if they'd like to be the bank, this "x" is the upfront cost for isntallation.". If they got money they install, if they don't, they go without. This is NOT the way to expand broadband throughout America. It is the way for me to fund my company growth. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Rogato" <[email protected]> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 12:05 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Business strategy for an uncertain future... > > > If I was in the business of selling something frivilous, I would be > worried. > > This is internet access. People need Internet Access just like they need > electricity. You could live with out it but who would want to. > Unless you have hit the top of your saturation, then it's doubtful > you'll be losing subscribers. And if you offer a competitively priced > product, you should, because of the recession, find a lot of new > customers looking to change to a lower priced service when their low > priced introductory deals run out. > > Especially if you have a Voip / Intenet Access bundle to offer. > > So borrow away, it's not going to hurt you. > > As for us, we don't really borrow, or want to carry much debt. We buy > our equipment out of cash flow and are happy to be clear by the third > month. Only downside is I don't get the qty discount that Travis pointed > out with his large purchases. > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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/ > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1870 - Release Date: > 12/31/2008 8:44 AM > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
