Government is moving faster than... well, anything? I'm contacting my Congressmen.
----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com -------------------------------------------------- From: "Tom DeReggi" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 6:32 PM To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [WISPA] [Motorola II] Broadband Stimulus ActRepresentationFinancialNeeds > 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! 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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! 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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