Brian could not have said this better. We have GOT to file the 477's these days. Yes it's non of the government's business. But they WILL act on what they learn. What's better, getting shot in the foot or getting shot in the head? Either way, the gun WILL go off. As the Rush song says, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!" I choose the foot :-).
Many of you here will remember some of us telling you that not filing will hurt us in the long run. Now we've got $7B in "free" money floating around, most if it headed for OUR back yards and to our COMPETITORs. Like it or not, the government's only real measure of what's going on out there is the 477. It sucks, but it's reality. I'm going to suggest that the board look at hiring someone to help first time filers figure the process out. If we can get another thousand or two WISPs to file the 477 it'll do amazing things for our credibility. More than any lobbying efforts we could possibly put forth otherwise. The next filing time line is the July-December 09 period, due sometime after Jan 1st. Even flooding the FCC with attempts to file will say a lot. Thoughts? marlon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Webster" <bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:28 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF changes? > The problem as I see it is that we are arguing the chicken and the > egg. > While I understand why a WISP would not necessarily want to disclose their > network footprint, it has become very obvious that not disclosing the > information has created more harmful situations (BTOP/BIP funding as one > example) than would have been lost by letting the information out. The > legislative climate and the rate of change on broadband policy is so rapid > today, that waiting for some incentive to provide the information, to me > is > more risk than disclosing the information. The FCC is indeed in the > process > of looking at some of the ideas you mention in your email. It's happening > TODAY and policy/opinion/legislation is being crafted based on information > they can get their hands on now or in the very near future. I have been > contacted by the FCC about mapping broadband on a granular level and in > those conversations, USF reform was mentioned as one of the uses for the > mapping information. They already have a major data analysis company under > contract doing the modeling and considerations for USF reforms. The > mapping > information will be a HUGE input and factor in some of the answers they > will > derive from their studies. Many of these answers will be formulated in the > next 6 months or less. Waiting for legislative efforts to create incentive > to provide the information will more than likely be too late for the WISP > industry. > > Creating this data and just giving it away is a huge burden on a WISP > no doubt, but competing with a rural telco who might be able, under USF > reforms, to get subsidies for their DSL lines as well as the voice lines > they get now, will certainly make it much tougher for a WISP to compete in > a > rural market. Right now wireless enjoys a big advantage in the cost per > subscriber to deploy compared to others. The FCC knows this. They are also > dealing with a congress who is influenced by strong telco and cable lobby > groups. The WISP industry has none of that and what is worse, they have no > comprehensive data put together to help the FCC defend any position that > might give WISP's a stab at USF funding. If they have no hard data they > have > a very difficult time rebutting any claims the the cable and telco > industry > claim. Yet another good reason the WISP industry should be filing the Form > 477 data > > > Thank You, > Brian Webster > > > > On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 2:06 PM, Tom DeReggi > <wirelessn...@rapiddsl.net>wrote: > >> Brian, >> >> I argue to push legislation to give benefit to providers to map their >> data, >> so its a no brainer to cooperate. >> A Map is not needed to suggest and conclude USF reform. >> A Map is needed implemen new USF rules, such as tocollect USF funds, and >> block recipients from collecting funds. >> >> I hardly see the benefit in giving away to the coverage information >> without >> first being given the benefit of giving it away. >> >> The first step is get legislation to include broadband as eligible >> recipients. >> And step two is to get legislation to include that USF funds wont be >> given >> to entities that are alread y served by wireless technology. >> And Step3 is to get legislation to include what criteria considers an >> area >> adequately served by wireless technology. >> Or Step4 - to create the equivellent of a ILEC, for a wireless provider. >> Shouldn't there be a WiLEC status? :-) >> >> When Feds give us good reason to disclose our coverage, backed by passed >> good legislation, I assure you WISPs will be first in line to give it. >> >> Have the feds tell usthey wont give grants to new entrants where there is >> already a WISP, unless to that pre-existing WISP, and I assure you WISPs >> will flood the info to you. >> But with legislation like, WISP must serve 60% of an areas to disqualify >> others, there is hardly a call to action to provide information. >> Providing >> that information just makes it easier for other applicants to serve our >> areas. >> >> Tom DeReggi >> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Brian Webster" <bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com> >> To: <sarn...@info-ed.com>; "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 1:42 PM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF changes? >> >> >> > The FCC understands it very well. The problem is that WISP's are not >> > well >> > known as far as where, how many, and what speeds they serve......ever >> > wonder >> > why they have been pushing the Form 477? This yet another example of >> > how >> > trying to stay under the Radar is going to come back and bite the >> industry >> > in the butt. Who knows, if they do a good job of USF reform and a WISP >> > is >> > in >> > a very rural area, they may be entitled to RECEIVE USF funds on a >> > monthly >> > basis. But of course if we cannot quantify the WISP industry and/or >> > show >> a >> > good coverage area, the policy makers will have no choice but to make >> > decisions based on what they have in front of them for >> > information.....maybe >> > it's time to dust off the National WISP map again and do another push >> > to >> > improve that. >> > >> > >> > Thank You, >> > Brian Webster >> > >> > >> > >> > On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 11:55 AM, Scottie Arnett >> > <sarn...@info-ed.com>wrote: >> > >> >> And they forgot all about the other ISP's out there. They are leaving >> >> it >> >> up >> >> to the telcos to supply the demand! Do they(The FCC) not understand >> >> that >> >> other companies besides the telcos and cable companies offer Internet >> >> access? >> >> >> >> Scott >> >> >> >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- >> >> From: RickG <rgunder...@gmail.com> >> >> Reply-To: WISPA General List <wireless@wispa.org> >> >> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:49:39 -0500 >> >> >> >> >Warning: "The bill also drew early praise from AT&T" >> >> > >> >> >On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:10 PM, Blair Davis <the...@wmwisp.net> >> >> >wrote: >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3847366/Lawmakers+Float+Bill+to+Boost+Rural+Broadband.htm >> >> >> >> >> >> I'm not sure I need any more gov. interference! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> WISPA Wants You! 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