Press Release For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Pratt, PrattNetworks LLC (617) 418-4696 Members of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA <http://www.wispa.org/> ) are using a new set of online tools to protect their broadband service territories from improper overbuilding under the federal broadband stimulus program. "If the RUS does not know that your business exists, the chances of grant money being allocated to new competition are much higher," said Rick Harnish, present of WISPA this afternoon to his membership. Mr. Harnish is referring to the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one of two federal agencies running the broadband stimulus program. WISPA is hosting an online Webinar on Monday, May 17th, at 2:00 PM (EDT), on the critical subject of how rural operators need to protect their territories with good data, and timely filings. Operators have until May 23 to register their service areas with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many WISPA members worked to file their Service Provider Responses which mark their areas by this past Monday, May 10, with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. "If you don't file, you don't count," said Peter Pratt, owner of the Boston based telecom sector advisory firm that put together the programs supporting WISPA members and other incumbent operators. "You need powerful database tools to even figure out who is filing for funds in your service area, and where they are doing so. We are pleased that our work has made life easier for operators proving where their footprints are." Pratt's firm, in partnership with leading telecom data analysts, GIS specialists, and rural telecom funding consultants, has launched the Service Area Matrix, via the site MappingBroadband.net <http://www.mappingbroadband.net> . For a fee of $425 -- for a summary yet intensive look at up to five counties -- an operator can quickly and accurately see what firms are seeking federal funds to build in a particular area. WISPA members, and other incumbent providers, can then use this information to select where and how to register their Public Notice Filings with RUS by the May 23 deadline. Pratt's team can also conduct the work to file on an operator's behalf. Each county across the nation is matched in the database product to the number of service areas filed for federal funds in that county. From a high of 28 such service areas filed in Yavapi County, Arizona, through 15 such filings in Orangeburg, South Carolina, down to 1 filing in Weston, Wyoming the Matrix tool ends the endless hours of searching on the <http://mappingtool.broadbandusa.gov/LegalNoticeFiling/List.Aspx> federal site, which many industry managers are complaining about. "The point is to grab the data from us, and see who wants funds in your area, and file," said Pratt, a 30 year telecom industry veteran, and publisher of the news service StimulatingBroadband.com. "Our Service Area Matrix cuts down, by scores if not hundreds of hours, the time it takes to navigate the federal data. We are proud to have supported a great group of WISPA members in the NTIA filing process. We welcome calls from operators in the field today." Visit us at MappingBrodband.net <http://www.mappingbroadband.net> , or place your inquiry at [email protected]" Webinar Information: 1. Click here to start or join the Webinar: <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ojoin/783126305/2230722> https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ojoin/783126305/2230722 This link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you. 2. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended. Or you may select Use Telephone after joining the Webinar. Dial: 773-945-1011 Access code: 631-822-165 Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting Webinar ID: 783-126-305 System Requirements: WindowsR Vista, XP Pro, XP Home, 2003 Server, 2000, 2000 Server Mac OSR X 10.4 (TigerR) or newer
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