Scottie, There just weren't enough of us to stop things like that from happening.
It's a chicken and egg thing. It takes members to get things done. Some don't want to join until we can point to positive results. I guess it's a matter of how far in the future do you want to look? If you don't look past the end of your nose you are right, WISPA is a waste of time. We do have an impact but it's still hard to quantify much of the time. If you can look years or decades down the road WISPA is a no brainer. After all, who else is speaking for you? Who else is working to make the complicated understandable? Not picking on your Scottie, you just happen to be the guy that brought this up this time.... Also, there IS a value in WISPA already. How much have you learned from the lists? What's it worth to be able to ask questions of the best experts in the industry, and have them answer you? Who pays for the servers and bandwidth so you can do that? Who pays for people's time so you can get your answers? If we all give a little of our time and a little of our money much good gets done. Since WISPA has been functional (around 2004) we've gotten Whitespaces, 3650, 255mhz of new 5 gig spectrum, relaxed antenna certification rules and more. WISPA was very involved in all of those items at an FCC level. We've also worked with the FBI for CALEA (believe me, if you knew all of the back story you'd be REALLY glad we did this!!!!), the UTC for some items and we've helped people reach out to their congress people. WISPA has gained a good reputation with many other organizations and with the FCC. Oh sure, some think of us as cowboys or clod hoppers from time to time. But we're always the most knowledgeable and most educated when it comes to unlicensed operations servicing real world customers in real world situations. I can't possibly find the words to sufficiently urge you to join. Look back at the dial-up and DSL portions of our industry if you'd like to see where WISPs will be in another 10 years without an effective and strong voice in DC. laters, marlon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scottie Arnett" <sarn...@info-ed.com> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:20 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF Reform Bill Introduced - The most compelling reason to document and map your network coverage ever >I agree with Fred on this. I have read many of his statements on > cybertelecom's email list. If you are an ISP, I strongly recommend that > you join it off of < http://www.cybertelecom.org/ > > > Since around 2002, maybe a little earlier, at the time of The > Tauzin-Dingell Telecom Bill, the Congress, and the FCC pretty much did > away with "line sharing" or the ability for us(ISP's) to use any lines > provided by Ilec's(< http://www.manymedia.com/futures/tauzding.html >). > After this it lead to the "Triennial Review." All this finally leads to > the fact that the ILEC's do not even have to share their fiber. > > Fred may not agree with me on this, but as far as I can see it, the FCC > and Congress have been out to do away with the small ISP's since around > 2000. They have one agenda, that makes it even more sound is that in the > last few months, the FCC has now classified broadband as 4 meg down/1 meg > up. That not only has DE-classified many of the WISP as providing > broadband, but also the satellite providers, and many DSL systems. > > I recently had an awakening, on the 2nd round BIP, that even though my > company had coverage in the same area as a Rural Telco(Twin Lakes > Telephone Cooperative) they could apply for BIP, but I could not because > they already had USDA funding as a Telco. Guess what? They received 16 > million in grants and also received 16 million in low cost loans to > provide FTTH in my coverage area. > > Call me what you will, but the FCC and everything behind them only want > the duopoly of cable and telco to deal with. We are just pissing in the > wind and it is why I have not joined WISPA yet. I may be missing the boat, > but I am waiting for WISPA to prove me wrong. I have seen beyond and > experienced beyond the norm. Show me something that I can have faith(and > provide financial incentives) in or I will stay exactly where I am at and > look for other income. > > Scottie Arnett > Info-Ed, Inc. > >> At 7/29/2010 08:01 AM, Brian wrote: >>>Hit me off list and I can offer some suggestions. >> >> As I mentioned, the 75% rule only applies to wireline providers >> (i.e., cable), so mapping WISP coverage buys nothing. >> >> The Boucher-Terry bill has nothing in it to help WISPs and plenty to >> hurt them, including a rather high tax to support your competitors. >> >> >> >>>Brian >>> >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On >>>Behalf Of RickG >>>Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:24 PM >>>To: WISPA General List >>>Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF Reform Bill Introduced - The most compelling >>> reason >>>to document and map your network coverage ever >>> >>>I'd like to but I dont know where to begin and with my limited time I >>>cant even try to figure it out. >>> >>>On Wed, Jul 28, 2010 at 12:37 PM, Brian Webster >>><bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com> wrote: >>> > Steve Coran just posted the message below to the WISPA FCC committee >>> list. >>>I >>> > took particular note to the following statement: >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > - would reduce or deny support to wireline incumbents in areas where >>> at >>> > least 75% of households can receive voice and broadband from a >>> competitive >>> > provider that does not receive support >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Now the way I read the above statement is that if a WISP covers 75% of >>> a >>> > current USF recipients service area, there will no longer be >>> eligibility >>>to >>> > receive USF funds. Remember if they have broadband they also have >>> access >>>to >>> > many VOIP providers even if you do not provide VOIP services. Vonage >>> and >>> > Skype come to mind, not to mention cellular coverage. This would be a >>> huge >>> > factor in leveling the playing field for WISP's in rural markets! I >>> cannot >>> > see a more compelling reason to document and map your networks than >>> this. >>> > Not only will it prevent yet another subsidized competitor from coming >>> in >>>to >>> > your service area, but it will also erode funding for any Telco who >>> > currently receives USF in your markets. This would bring wireless as a >>> > delivery method to the forefront because there are then no artificial >>> > revenue streams subsidizing the cost to deliver last mile service. We >>> all >>> > know that wireless has the least cost per household passed in low >>> density >>> > markets. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > There are many ways to document and map your coverage areas. First and >>> > foremost though is that you should file the Form 477 as required. Next >>> one >>> > should map their network with an accurate service area where you would >>> > confidently offer service. This can be done many ways (including >>> paying me >>> > to do it). This also shows a very important reason to be participating >>> in >>> > your state broadband mapping efforts. I would expect that those state >>> maps >>> > will become one of the major verification sources to establish the 75% >>> > coverage. The FCC 477 database will probably become another >>> verification >>> > source. If you are listed in both of them it would be very hard for >>>someone >>> > to say you don't exist and don't offer coverage in their areas. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > One of the downsides to this bill is that all broadband providers will >>> be >>> > required to contribute to the fund. My gut feeling though is that if >>>WISP's >>> > were accurately mapped and documented it would show so much less of >>> the US >>> > is unserved by broadband and thus the required funding through USF to >>> get >>>it >>> > there will be much less. >>> > >>> > Brian >>> > >>> > ---------------------------------- >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Last week, Reps. Boucher (D-VA) and Terry (R-NE) introduced >>> legislation >>>that >>> > would reform the Universal Service Fund. The Press Release, Overview, >>> > Section by Section summary and text of the bill are available at this >>>link: >>> > >>> > >>>http://www.boucher.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1579&; >>>Itemid=122 >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > I have not read these documents, but plan to do so soon. A few >>> highlights >>> > that the trade press has noted: >>> > >>> > - would reduce or deny support to wireline incumbents in areas >>> where >>>at >>> > least 75% of households can receive voice and broadband from a >>> competitive >>> > provider that does not receive support >>> > >>> > - FCC would create cost model that includes broadband in figuring >>> > support models >>> > >>> > - competitive bidding among wireless carriers for USF support >>> > >>> > - no more than two wireless CETCs could get support in the same >>> area >>> > >>> > - carriers would have 5 years to provide broadband throughout >>> their >>> > service areas, or would lose support >>> > >>> > - all broadband providers would pay into USF to expand >>> contribution >>>base >>> > >>> > - FCC to decide appropriate speed for broadband >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Rep. Boucher has said that the bill is on his "front burner" and that >>> he >>> > wants to get the legislation passed this Fall. Please feel free to >>>comment >>> > on-list AFTER you've reviewed the documents so that you can promote >>> > education of the WISPA membership and help shape whatever position >>> WISPA >>>may >>> > wish to take as the bill works its way through Congress. Thanks. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Stephen E. Coran >>> > >>> > Rini Coran, PC >>> > >>> > 1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600 >>> > >>> > Washington, D.C. 20036 >>> > >>> > 202.463.4310 - voice >>> > >>> > 202.669.3288 - cell >>> > >>> > 202.296.2014 - fax >>> > >>> > sco...@rinicoran.com - e-mail >>> > >>> > www.rinicoran.com >>> > >>> > www.telecommunicationslaw.com >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>---- >>> > 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/ >>> > >>> >>> >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>---- >>>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/ >>> >>> >>> >>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>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/ >> >> -- >> Fred Goldstein k1io fgoldstein "at" ionary.com >> ionary Consulting http://www.ionary.com/ >> +1 617 795 2701 >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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/ >> > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
