What you now written is rational and worthy of discussion. I am by no
means an expert at policy or legislation / regulation.. however was
thrown into this heap because we built a what can be called a successful
DSL ISP business after 2000..... and in 2005 we saw the rug pulled out
from under us, with the deregulation of DSL Services (a chain of events
which were were started a long before you an I ).
Because of our participation in trying to derail those efforts, did a
lot of research / digging ...etc.
I can tell you for a fact that Regulation for Internet Service Providers
has been a long time into the making. Partly because of how the Internet
has evolved, and greatly because of the trend that goes back 20-30 years
now.... Regulated Telecom Services of yesterday are now carried /
transported over Un-Regulated Communication Services....and as such were
getting treated as un-regulated...
So, I can rest assured tell you that.. there is no way Regulation was
Invited by any WISPA person, frankly I wish anyone at WISPA had this
kind of power.... This is a chess game of with very powerful currents,
in which you and I, including WISPA are less than ants...
And I can also tell you that, when such policies are made there are
casualties... (In the DSL deregulation, we heard the following from a
few sources.. "It has been decided and agreed that ISP's are irrelevant
from all angles, and as such do not need any kind of protection carved
out for them, they can disappear in a few years on their own."
With what WISPA is currently doing, seems to indicate that while ISP's
have been written off (by all sides, and law makers & policy makers)...
WISP's are possibly getting some protection from being trampled on .
Both sides of the law makers are simply friends of those who pay them
big bucks...and that ain't us....
There a very very few who may be sympathetic to our cause, but that only
goes as far as the next 'deal' making they have to do...
Regards
Faisal Imtiaz
Snappy Internet& Telecom
On 12/21/2010 2:50 PM, MDK wrote:
The problem we have here, Faisal, is not about "constructive"
criticism. I am not arguing the value of policy X vs policy Y, but
frustrated that the vast majority of US, who have the most to lose,
speak of these things in terms of such inevitability, as if losing the
battle against overreaching feds has already been lost, and all that's
left is to try to weasel some kind of benefits for ourselves.
And thus, my undying anger toward a former WISPA leader who went to
the FCC and suggested that they START poking their nose in our
business. His intention was to get us political status, so that we
could get our nose into the government trough. That's the kiss of
death, and somehow, we've managed to avoid the bullet so far, all hope
is NOT lost.
And that's where it all has gone awry.
And I’m not taking this as personal, relax.
The point is, we should not be debating the value of regulation X vs
the value of regulation Y, but instead seeking to make alliances in
Congress to FOREVER butt the government (fcc, etc) out of our business.
I wrote about 9 months ago, that the new Congress coming would have
some very strong allies in that regard, and that there's a change
coming, one so big that it'll change our possible future. Why should
we roll over and play dead, failing to ally ourselves with friends in
Congress who WANT to exempt us entirely from any meddling in our
business? Why should we play the FCC's game, when there's a much
bigger and much better idea - to gain our freedom to do business
without having an endless worry about what the changing faces at the
FCC are going to do - and have that endless threat and constant
looking over our shoulder, wondering when the sword will fall, the
train will come down the tracks, or whatever other metaphor is most
meaningful to you?
This means that the money trough from Congress will go AWAY and that
we have to earn our freaking keep from now on, with no subsidy, no
grants, no loans, at the taxpayer expense. But I consider that the
best business deal we could ever negotiate. The ANGER of many
Congressmen have right now, as directed toward the FCC is one that
makes my consternation seem like mild whining. The FCC is stepping on
the toes of Congress, giving them the bird, so to speak.
If you want strategy, then STRATEGY says we go to Congress. We have
strong allies in both houses, but they need US to give them cover
politically, so they can bully the rules through they want, and it
really DOES mean freedom for us. When was the last time a Congress
had a near majority in both houses that decided they should BUTT OUT
of an industry? Well, we have it. And it will be messy. And
controversial. And some people are going to get all bent out of
shape, because they WANT money, more than they want freedom.
I asked this list almost a year ago, directed my comments at the
leadership of WISPA, and it said basically the following: "How long
are you going to try to straddle this?" How long is the leadership
going to mouth "we need freedom to operate our business" with the
contradicting premise of "we want to get federal money and
subsidies"? The latter never comes with the former. WISPA is
going to have to take a stand, either it's going to say "we invite and
recognize the value of regulation of ISP business, network, and
policies" or, it's going to have to say "We believe that our industry
is best UNREGULATED". And they punted. Instead, I was told to
shut the hell up and not bring it up again.
Instead of sitting down and asking our contacts in DC who our friends
are, in terms of getting us permanent free market status, the
leadership chose to continue straddling the fence, so as to not rock
the boat. And, I will NOT support WISPA, until or unless it
actually grows a pair and fights, not to encourage and promote us
being regulated, but the RIGHT thing, which is our
independence. Those people who were denigrated and put down, those
"tea party" types, have suddenly gotten big pull in DC.
And they want every ally they can get. And WE should be one of
them. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK for the last month, major opinion
writers, congressmen, senators, and so on, have ARGUED for our NON
regulated status all over the news, tv shows, cable, internet sites,
newspapers, magazines, you name it. Where the hell are we? Afraid
to say the word, all hunkered down and have already given up and
declared dead - that being heavily regulated status being a foregone
conclusion and our free market status lost. There's basically TWO
organizations, the White House, and Genachowski himself that are
pushing it, THAT IS IT. And they're a tiny, but loud minority, and
they have the sympathy of Democrats. Both of the organizations
pushing it, are well funded and are basically socialists, who push an
agenda of extreme government power, over all things.
In this is case, it is not us against Congress, it is us vs the FCC
and a couple of special interest groups. After the new Congress is
sworn in, we have a real possibility of getting the law written to say
we're to be left alone, and NOT subject to the whims of agency
people. But, like I said almost a year ago... Ya'll gonna have to
decide which side of this fence ya wanna be on.
You know where I am.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Neofast, Inc, Making internet easy
541-969-8200 509-386-4589
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*From:* Faisal Imtiaz <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Tuesday, December 21, 2010 6:26 AM
*To:* WISPA General List <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [WISPA] Flexible rules promised for wireless
Nothing personal here...
I have yet to see some 'constructive' discussion from Mark about how
to influence the outcome of such regulations... I am not in favor of
the regulation... but ours would not be the first Independent Business
to be 'Regulated' in some form or another.. (Food business is
regulated, Medial Business is regulated, Fuel Business is regulated
etc. etc. etc..)
On one side when larger companies in an industry start to flex their
muscles, and start playing arrogant, that simply invites
Regulation... but then again we all behave similar in our own play
pens as well... but it is just that we are small and thus don't hit
the regulators radar screen..
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