When I search these websites for my county (Snohomish County, WA), I come up with SEVERAL listings for CTURN Corporation out of Oregon <http://broadbandsearch.sc.egov.usda.gov/SearchResult_Company.aspx?CompanyId=1f78822b-3a4c-43a7-af4a-461b44b65a51>. They appear to have over 130 applications showing "approved" back in 2006.
Several of these apps are in areas that I service and have intimate knowledge of. I have not seen ANYTHING toward broadband or this company. So what gives? Who do I call? CTURN has since been bought by <http://www.icoacorp.com/>. Is this a company that was funded by RUS and then RUS got nothing out of it or am I mistaken? ryan On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 11:20 AM, Chuck Bartosch <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm including the 40% in the gerrymandering statement. In another > response I pointed out that you have to "win" on every argument the > applicant makes, not just on the arguments you want to make. > > Chuck > > On Sep 15, 2009, at 2:16 PM, Vickie Edwards wrote: > >> " They went out of their way to encourage "gerrymandering" in >> the applications, which included the ability to include covered >> territory as long as the total number of already covered households >> was under 50% (which it is in this case as it's been explained to >> us)." >> >> Or that there's a less than 40% subscribership rate - a lot of >> people seem to be forgetting that. That's the only way that a lot of >> applications will be able to remain in consideration for underserved >> status, given how difficult it is in most areas to find anywhere >> with less than 50% availability. >> >> >> InLine> >> vickie edwards, MPA | Grant Specialist >> InLine> Solutions Through Technology >> 600 Lakeshore Pkwy >> Birmingham AL, 35209 >> 205-278-8106 [p] >> 205-941-1934[f] >> [email protected] >> www.InLine.com >> All Quotes from InLine are only valid for 30 days. This message and >> any attached files may contain confidential information and are >> intended solely for the message recipient. If you are not the >> message recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, >> distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of >> this information is strictly prohibited. E-mail transmission cannot >> be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be >> intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, >> or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability >> for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which >> arise as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is >> required please request a hard-copy version. >> >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] >> On Behalf Of Chuck Bartosch >> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:56 AM >> To: WISPA General List >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Searchable Map of Stimulus projects >> >> The problem is, it's a fair amount of effort to challenge since *you* >> have to challenge it at the census block level, just as they had to >> justify it at the census block level. >> >> And if the area is as the poster describes, it's impossible to >> challenge. He might have a very good reason why he can't reach even >> 50% of the residents (that's what he said, I'll remind you) in his >> area. But, it is irrelevant. They don't care *why* you can't reach the >> other households...they just care that you don't. >> >> If this is a big application then it's going to cover far more than >> his territory anyway, and you will NOT be able to have a section cut >> out of an otherwise qualifying target census set just because you do >> cover it. They went out of their way to encourage "gerrymandering" in >> the applications, which included the ability to include covered >> territory as long as the total number of already covered households >> was under 50% (which it is in this case as it's been explained to us). >> >> Chuck >> >> On Sep 15, 2009, at 12:16 PM, Tom DeReggi wrote: >> >>> Yes, It definateately IS appropriate to attempt to BLOCK bad >>> applications. >>> The NTIA/RUS has no way to know if an applcation is innapproriate or >>> in >>> conflict of interest if we dont tell them. >>> Quite honestly, the applicant may not know it is in conflict of >>> interest >>> without telling them. >>> >>> I specifically hate applacation that just selected 1 HUGE contiguous >>> area. >>> The reason is, they did't take the time that they should ahve to >>> look down >>> to the census block level to determine what blocks really are and >>> aren't >>> underserved areas. If anything it is the LARGE AREA applicants that >>> are >>> attempting to scam the system, to get grant money for served areas, >>> with the >>> hope no one will protest it. >>> >>> There is nothing wrong with competition. But this grant is NOT >>> creating >>> competition. It is giving the applicant a SUPER HUGE advantage over >>> any >>> other pre-existing provider in the area, and that is anti- >>> American,and >>> anti-fair-competition in my mind. >>> >>> To give a new provider a free network, and the existing provider no >>> funds, >>> is a disaster plan to put pre-existing businesses out of business, >>> and to >>> risk throwing away the much investment made by those original >>> entreprenures. >>> >>> What I recommend is that people diligently protest, but with fact, >>> and >>> suggested resolution. The goal should NOT to prevent the party from >>> gaining >>> a grant to serve truely underserved/unserved areas, but to instead >>> incourage >>> NTIA/RUS to force the applicant to revise its applicant to remedy the >>> conflict of Interest. Also note that once an area gets a grant, it >>> very >>> possible that NTIA/RUS may never give another grant to that same >>> area. When >>> this is done at the Census Block level it is no problem, because >>> applicants >>> can narrow down to each area that they serve and dont serve. But when >>> someone lists an ENTIRE County, it risks that future legitimate >>> application >>> for needy census blocks will be denied because of the area being >>> recorded as >>> already served by a grant applicant. Is it right for an Entire >>> county to be >>> given to a new provider? Remember applicants are required to serve >>> ALL >>> customer in an area. That means they will be getting grant money to >>> put you >>> out of business. >>> >>> I also think there is a misconception that the protestor must prove >>> the data >>> that shows its not underserved. I do not believe that is 100% true. >>> I think >>> ther eis a clear valid arguement that if an applicant cant afford to >>> gather >>> the mapping data to file for their own grant, they surely should not >>> be >>> required to spent lots of money to map the errors in other people's >>> application. >>> I believe aprotestor should only have to protest to the level that >>> creates a >>> reasonable amount of doubt about the applicant. The burden to prove >>> coverage is on the applicant's original submission. So if you >>> protest an >>> applicant by saying it is a served area by cable and fios, the >>> applicant's >>> original data should have to prove it FIOS and Cable does not >>> overlap it, >>> not you. >>> If they submitted incomplete documetnation, that is there problem, >>> and >>> should lead to the disqualification of their application. >>> >>> You being a provider in the area with a small market share, will not >>> likely >>> be enough to protest an application on its own, but it should still >>> be >>> possible to build a case. >>> For example, lets say there are three applicants, and two were >>> careful not >>> tto overlap your coverage, but one applicant did overlap you. Simple >>> state >>> that the applicant that overlapped you clearly did not do his >>> homework to >>> isolate which areas are served or not, and that you support the >>> other two >>> applicants that properly identified and avoided conflciting areas. >>> >>> The idea is to develop support for the applications that won't harm >>> you. And >>> give the NTIA/RUS an option to award grants that will create >>> possitive press >>> and not negative press. >>> I beleive the overnment wants this program to besuccessful, and >>> nobody wants >>> an aftermath press stating things like "grant money puts local >>> businesses >>> out of business". >>> >>> >>> Tom DeReggi >>> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >>> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "L. Aaron Kaplan" <[email protected]> >>> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:49 AM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Searchable Map of Stimulus projects >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sep 15, 2009, at 2:20 PM, Steve Barnes wrote: >>> >>>> Digital Bridge has asked for money for Underserved for the county >>>> that I service, the whole county. >>>> Questions: >>>> 1. Since I am the only WISP in the Rural areas of my county and my >>>> standard is 1024/256 with 2.4 and there is 50% of the clients that I >>>> cant get due to trees. I assume that that will be seen as >>>> Underserved. Is there anything that I can do to get this blocked? >>> >>> Just a quit though - correct me if I am wrong, but... >>> >>> Isnt blocking competition very un-American somehow? >>> Is "blocking" even possible? >>> >>> I hope you also applied for getting thru the trees, no? >>> >>> >>>> 2. Now it appears that they asked for money for all the Census >>>> blocks in the county. ALL the cities have My service, DSL, and >>>> Cable. How can that be labeled as Underserved. If we get one Block >>>> rejected does that stop the one request which would be all my area? >>> >>> --- >>> there's no place like 127.0.0.1, except maybe ::1 (someday) >>> >>> (üäö) >>> >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> 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/ >> >> -------------- >> Chuck Bartosch >> Clarity Connect, Inc. >> 200 Pleasant Grove Road >> Ithaca, NY 14850 >> (607) 257-8268 >> >> "When the stars threw down their spears, >> and water'd heaven with their tears, >> Did He smile, His work to see? >> Did He who made the Lamb make thee?" >> >> From William Blake's Tiger!, Tiger! >> >> >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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/ > > -------------- > Chuck Bartosch > Clarity Connect, Inc. > 200 Pleasant Grove Road > Ithaca, NY 14850 > (607) 257-8268 > > "When the stars threw down their spears, > and water'd heaven with their tears, > Did He smile, His work to see? > Did He who made the Lamb make thee?" > > From William Blake's Tiger!, Tiger! > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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/
