Nice, Matt, nice...
----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com -------------------------------------------------- From: "Matt Larsen - Lists" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:50 PM To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; "Telecom Regulation & the Internet" <[email protected]> Subject: [WISPA] Broadband Fiasco Followup > Apparently my tirade about broadband mapping reached a few ears in > Washington, as the NE PSC called me this afternoon to let me know that > the NTIA is willing to accept shape files and is willing to relax some > of the data requirements in order to get fuller representation from > WISPs. Making ourselves heard and showing a willingness to be part of > the solution is the first step to getting better results. > > > Here is a copy of the email that I sent to the Nebraska PSC today with > my followup comments. Other commentary and discussion regarding this > is available at Wireless Cowboys http://www.wirelesscowboys.com/ > > > Matt Larsen > vistabeam.com > > > I am writing with further comments and concerns about the Nebraska > Broadband Mapping Initiative. After participating in the conference call > about the mapping program yesterday, I was left with several concerns. > > My first concern is about the accuracy of the data that will be > collected. The number of providers that have not responded to the NDA > request and/or the data request is very high, and that means that there > will be substantial inaccuracies in the final dataset that will make the > final results of the project flawed. A dataset that only includes 20-50% > of the total data needed could lead to policy decisions that could have > an adverse affect on the smaller providers that cover otherwise unserved > areas by encouraging government supported overbuilds. This would be > wasteful of taxpayer money and could put many of the smaller providers > out of business, causing a net loss of jobs and the loss of broadband > service to customers of those smaller providers. It is critical that > most if not all of the broadband providers in the state be represented > in this project. The attitude that the state contractor appears to have > is that non respondents will simply not be included. I would hope that > this attitude will change to be more inclusive of the smaller, > non-wireline providers who do not have the ability to generate the > requested data easily. > > My second concern is about the data that is being requested. The data > request template is asking for a lot of data that I don't feel > comfortable divulging to any outside entities, including customer > addresses, GPS coordinates and frequencies used on our towers and the > anchor institutions that we serve. Many of the other WISPs that I work > with are also not comfortable turning this information over to an > outside party, even with the NDA. After several discussions with other > experts in the mapping and data collection field, I have come to the > conclusion that the mapping requirements would be effectively served by > delivering the GIS shape files of our coverage areas along with a > summary of subscribers in each census block. I have already delivered > the requested shape files showing our coverage, and am working toward > the census block summaries. If the data requirements could be adjusted > so that this information would be suitable, I believe that you would get > more response from the smaller providers. > > My third concern is about the cost for smaller, non-wireline providers > to collect the data. While most wireline providers already have shape > files and geocoding information already collected and available, many > wireless providers do not have this information readily available and do > not have the tools or technical knowledge to get this information > collected within the requested time frame. Committing man hours to do > this in-house or bring in outside assistance places an undue financial > burden on providers that are often self-funded and would prefer to > invest that money into their networks. The grant was given to the PSC, > not the providers, and yet we are being asked to spend our time and > money to get this information together. Coming up with a way to help > provide the manpower and financial assistance necessary to collect this > information would provide a win-win situation for the providers and the > PSC and increase the amount of data collected. > > Finally, I believe that more effective outreach could be established > with the providers so that the comfort level is higher. Sending an email > with a large data request and a short deadline for response is not going > to be received well. A series of emails with detailed explanations of > the program's purposes and benefits to providers, an intelligently > designed website with progress reports and followup phone calls to the > providers who have not returned the information would go over much > better. WISPs have not been required to collect this information up to > this point and there is no mandate for its collection, so it makes sense > to build up a positive relationship rather than dictate what should be > provided. One benefit of this process is that it is an opportunity for > the Public Service Commission to build a rapport with the WISPs and gain > a better understanding of their place in the broadband infrastructure > while educating them about the purposes and benefits of the Public > Service Commission. > > Thank you for taking the time to work through this process. I hope that > my comments reflect my desire to improve the process and get us closer > to the desired outcome. > > Best Wishes, > > Matt Larsen > > Vistabeam.com > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! 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