It should be noted, that Obama just got the House part through congress in less than a week. The next three months is the most relevent. When we'll need the help most. Remember funds must be available by Sept 2009. Only 7 months away.
WISP's will be capable of representing WISPA, if we run out of funds, and the process extends pasts 3 months. We have plenty of tiem to plan for that. The urgency in needing representation now, is that the process is moving so fast. It will be hard for our committee to move as fast as the legislations, without seasoned professional directing us and stream-lining us to our goal. The committee is prepared to do it alone, if we need to. And we are also prepared to seek alternate representation, if we do not raise the amount of money needed to gain RiniCoran's representation. However, RiniCoran was our first choice, because they clearly had put in their dues early with WISPA, and proven their competency. What we want to learn from members, is how bad they want top level representation for Broadband Stimulus, to optimize our chance at touching a peice of that $8 billion. If members volunteer substantial additional funds, it will be clear members support this effort, and WISPA as well will kick in additional funds from our cash-on-hand. It should be noted there will be several stages of this lobby effort. We started to late to effect the House. But we have a day or two left for the Senate. And at some point, the senate and house versions, get worked in/out to a mutual agreeable one. We are still urgently trying to make some effect to the legislative bill stage. I think we also should focus on Senators, at this stage, since the senate has not yet finished passing their version bill. If we miss the boat, then we focus on phase2 (FCC, RUS, and NTIA.) on the emplimentation phase. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Rohrbacher" <[email protected]> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:08 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] [Motorola II] Broadband Stimulus Act Representation Financial Needs >I think $500 for this type of representation would is reasonable. > Now I need 59 more people to agree.... > > Question, what if three months go by and we have not gotten anywhere? > It's not hard to believe that 3 months could go by and it's realized > that we need another 3. I mean, can you get anywhere with the > government in three months? Can we get a 6 month quote? Would we have > to pay it all if we feel our goals are realized after 4 months? > > Brian > > Rick Harnish wrote: >> Craig, >> >> >> >> Obviously any donation will be appreciated. I believe some of the larger >> WISPs will be willing to put in $500-$1000 towards this effort, knowing >> the >> importance to their business. I spoke to Steve Coran a short while ago >> and >> expressed concern over the quick pace this legislation is being pushed >> through Congress and what would be done from his perspective over the >> next >> three months. He will be getting me a plan of action shortly and also >> stated that once it makes it through Congress, it will be sent to the >> FCC, >> NTIA and USDA for Rule Making. At this time, our lobbying efforts will >> need >> to be moved from Congress to these Departments to help construct the >> rules >> and policy in which this money will be dispersed. >> >> >> >> We appreciate your contribution and know that we don't want to unduly >> burden >> your business with this contribution. We do however see the need for >> everyone to put up a little so that the aggregate donations can be used >> to >> protect our interests. If you would rather make a smaller donation >> monthly, >> that can be done as well. Please state that when making your pledge. >> Every >> little bit helps! >> >> >> >> With that said, I also encourage anyone who is not a member of WISPA yet >> to >> sign up and support WISPA and these efforts with membership dues. If you >> have been procrastinating or don't think WISPA does enough for you, >> please >> reconsider and go to http://signup.wispa.org and apply today. For the 30 >> new members or so that have joined in the last few weeks, we appreciate >> your >> support. Our billing personnel has had some illness in her family >> recently >> and is running behind on invoicing. She will be getting caught up very >> soon. Thank you for your patience. >> >> >> >> Respectively, >> >> Rick Harnish >> >> >> >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf Of Craig House >> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 11:35 AM >> To: Motorola Canopy User Group >> Subject: Re: [Motorola II] Broadband Stimulus Act Representation >> Financial >> Needs >> >> >> >> I realize that different sized WISP's can afford different amounts of >> contributions to this cause and I think it is worthy of a donation from >> my >> company. What I am curious of is, what would the average donation need >> to >> be assuming all Wisp members were to contribute the same amount to make >> this >> funding possible? >> >> Craig A House >> Operations Manager >> Total Wireless Communications. >> >> Rick Harnish wrote: >> >> To all WISPA members and interested parties, >> >> >> >> I am writing this as a member of WISPA and as a WISP who is concerned >> about >> the upcoming Broadband Stimulus Legislation that is moving through >> Congress >> as I speak. I feel that it is imperative that we as a group work >> diligently >> to lobby our congressmen on the abilities of WISPs to meet the Broadband >> Deployment Issues at hand. There is a large amount of funding that will >> be >> made available for Broadband Providers to extend their networks. We need >> to >> speak up and be heard NOW or we may not have access to this funding in >> the >> process of awarding Grants and Loan Programs. >> >> >> >> To do this, we need to hire representation as a group to make sure our >> interests are heard as this policy and procedure is defined. We have >> received a quote from Steve Coran, Rini-Coran and Mercury Strategies to >> represent WISPA for three months for a fee of $30,000. I have attached >> this >> proposal for your review. The Board has this proposal under >> consideration >> and Tom DeReggi is heading the Legislative Committee to work directly >> with >> Rini-Coran and Mercury through this process. Our concern as a board is >> that >> this fee on top of the fees incurred for the TV Whitespaces work that >> Rini-Coran is doing for us will rapidly deplete our financial resources. >> However, it is very valuable work that needs to be done to insure that >> the >> WISP industry has a future. >> >> >> >> Our dilemma is that we need to raise additional funding from our members >> to >> insure that WISPA can still exist and remain a meaningful Association to >> represent your interests as this Broadband push continues in the future. >> I >> am seeking voluntary donations from individual operators and Vendors to >> assist in making this happen. We have always kept dues low to make sure >> we >> included even the smallest WISPs but our fees do not allow us to have the >> resources to lobby the way we should. We will publicly post the company >> names of those who donate to this cause and I am seeking suggestions on >> how >> we can compensate those who donate with some sort of preferential >> treatment >> in the process of obtaining grant writing resources and prioritizing >> those >> grant applications in the work flow in good measure for your donation. >> This >> is a very resourceful group of operators and I encourage your >> participation >> in deriving this plan. >> >> >> >> WISPA is growing daily in membership and respect amongst the >> telecommunications industry. With a new website on the way, potential >> costs >> of Association Management, TV Whitespaces Lobbying efforts, US Broadband >> Coalition strategy and other upcoming expenses, I see no choice but to >> bring >> this to the membership for input and review. We are on the verge of >> doing >> something to insure our placement in the future. We all need to help one >> another. >> >> >> >> If you would like to speak to me directly, please call me at >> 260-827-2482. >> I prefer email but will speak to anyone, time allowing that would like to >> talk. >> >> >> >> Respectfully, >> >> Rick Harnish >> >> President >> >> WISPA >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _____ >> >> >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.15/1921 - Release Date: >> 1/28/2009 >> 6:37 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/ >> >> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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: 270.10.15/1921 - Release Date: > 1/28/2009 6:37 AM > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! 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