As you may or may not know, the upcoming deadline to file responses to RUS funding applications is May 23rd, 2010. I just got off the phone with Peter Pratt of Stimulating Broadband. He assisted 20-30 WISPA members last week in filing their NTIA responses before May 10th. He is writing a press release now and I will be sending it out shortly concerning the upcoming deadline with the RUS BIP Program. I will also be discussing a possible webinar with Peter and his constituent Liz Zucco early next week. Once we have a firm date and time, I will be posting this also.
This Response Filing is quite challenging but definitely not something a WISP should ignore. This is your only chance to justify your service area and WISPs may be at the highest risk. WISPs typically have already invested heavily into their infrastructure and customer base. Although no one likes to have to expend time, money and resources to defend their service areas from overbuild, it is a fact of life with these federal programs which are mandated to fund new broadband buildouts. If the RUS does not know that your business exists, the chances of grant money being allocated to new competition are much higher. Alex Goldman wrote an article last week and posted it to the WISPA website (http://www.wispa.org/?p=2189). Please take time to read it and review the applicants in your state who may be planning on overbuilding your area. Get to work quickly as you have very little time left. Also, look for an announcement later today with Peter Pratt's press release and another about a possible webinar. While I applaud all WISPs who have applied for Grant funding and respect that they have gone to great expense of time and money to produce those applications, I want to say for the record, that I also represent all WISPs (WISPA members or not) and resolve it my duty to make those WISPs aware of the ramifications of not filing their responses. This has nothing to do with favoritism, the procedure is defined by the Federal Government and the information is public. It is our duty as the trade association representing all of our members to educate all the best we can. Respectfully, Rick Harnish President WISPA 260-307-4000 cell 866-317-2851 WISPA Office Skype: rick.harnish. rharn...@wispa.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
