Matt: Well said. Not to mention that the WiSP industry was virtually ignored during the meeting, so was VoIP, virtually the only available communications services immediately after the disaster, and still today.
Immediately after the meeting, Jeff Pulver stated, "Now, once again, the VoIP industry has been excluded from the dialogue. As a result, I fear that the public might miss out on the full story and may never understand the positive role that IP technology could play going forward in times of public catastrophe." (http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=652) To that end, I have an opportunity for WiSPA and the Wireless ISP industry at the upcoming Comptel/ASCENT and Broadband Wireless World show in Orlando in three weeks. I have been invited to speak at the show and would like to reserve some of my time to highlight the success of what Mac (and crew) have accomplished. Your video, pictures, etc. would be fantastic to have in my presentation. If you can share them with me, I have the ability to edit and create a production quality piece and present it at this event. Here is the communication I sent to Rick this morning (I don't know that he'll get it anytime soon because he's headed down to LA to help so I'll ask the other Board Members, and list members, for their comment). ----- Good Morning Rick: I wanted to pass along to you, so you may communicate to the Board, that I will be speaking at the Comptel/ASCENT and Broadband Wireless World Show coming up in Orlando in about 3 weeks. The premise of my discussion is getting around the last mile of the RBOC/ILEC and providing Voice (VoIP) services over a wireless network and bypassing the traditional communications infrastructure. During a conference call with the organizers yesterday, Hurricane Katrina came up and I discussed with them Mac's and WiSPA's efforts to provide telephony support over wireless networks to support evacuee's and the shelters and they could think of no better way to illustrate the above point (bypassing the LEC's) but to use this perfect, timely, example. So, what I'm asking you, and the board for, is permission to discuss this solution, use some pictures, network topology diagrams during my speech. It is my desire to give the necessary credit to WiSPA and Mac, certainly not myself. Please let me know as soon as possible as I need to finalize my presentation within the next couple of weeks. For more information on the show, you can visit: http://www.comptelascent.org/events/orlando-fall05/index.html More specifically, you can view the agenda there as well. I will be part of a panel beginning at 8:00 am on Tuesday Oct. 11. Below is the excerpt from the program as to the premise of the panel. Business Strategies Track Network Access: Where Do We Go From Here? The loss of UNE-P as a result of the FCC TRRO and the deployment of advanced IP-based services make finding alternative network access more important than ever before. Learn what options are available today and being developed for tomorrow's networks. Moderator: Sue Platner, President, The Northridge Group Thanks for your help. Keep me posted. Rich -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matt Larsen - Lists Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 7:21 PM To: wireless@wispa.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [WISPA] A Message from Brother Larsen Hello all, I considered going to the FCC meeting today, but it would have been a huge time committment for me after already making a pretty big committment to get down to Louisiana last week. If I really felt that this was the time for us to come out to the forefront and declare our industry ready to take charge, I would have gladly taken the time to do it, but WISPA was mentioned as one sentence in one report that was little more than a footnote after all of the stories of "sacrifice" and "tremendous efforts" that the ILECs bandied about. We are still nothing more than footnotes to the FCC and the telecom industry. 250 miles north of NOLA, we had spotty cell phones and the regular phones only worked half the time - which is why Mac's team went down south and is doing something very SPECIAL and AMAZING down on the Gulf Coast. In my mind, the thing to do right now is to keep on plugging away on the relief efforts and save our promotional activities until we have a little bit more under our belts. Many in our industry made donations that went straight to Mac's team, and will keep them fed and operating through the weekend - and I will say this right now.... MAC'S GROUP IS GOING TO BRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POSITIVE VISIBILITY AND CREDIBILITY TO OUR INDUSTRY That FCC meeting is going to be completely forgotten in another week or two, but I guarantee that people are going to know the legend of Mac Dearman and his motley crew for years - and the most important thing to do right now is to stand behind him and support him in this time of need. If any of you had been there, you would have felt the incredible power of that team, the energy flowing between everyone and the focus. Many in that team knew little about WISPs - they were network or VOIP guys - but they are believers now, I guarantee it. In the next two weeks, they are going to show the world what the "git er done" attitude can do, and it is going to put the Telcos, the cableops and the FCC to SHAME! Gentlemen, our golden moment is upon us - we are about to rise from the horizon of obscurity and start our fast rise into respectability, credibility and investability. Our seat at the big table is being prepared, and Mac Dearman - probably one of the most unlikely heroes we could ever have, and yet probably the most deserving - is going to pull the chair out for us. The most important thing we can do for the next thirty days is going to be to make sure that we can put any possible resource in front of Mac, just to show what ONE MAN, ONE WISP can do with resources behind him. When his job is done, the most important thing we can do will be to trumpet that acheivement - we need heroes and the stories behind those heroes will be remembered. I want every person in America to know who Mac Dearman is - because he stands for all that is great about our country. After being down there for a few days, I have completely recommitted and reworked my video project idea about WISPs to focus on Katrina efforts and how the things that Mac is doing are just a reflection of what WISPS do everyday, all over the world. I have two hours of video footage, and another two hours coming from a videographer in Louisiana, and I fully intend to make a documentary that tells our story like nothing else. I have no idea where I will come up with the money and time to get that video done, but I WILL FIND A WAY! I was in tears at home last Tuesday night, feeling for my friend Mac and wishing I could be down there helping him out - but it only took me about 30 minutes and two phone calls before I figured out how to get it done. I was able to enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I was able to be part of something meaningful and pure of heart. This is our chance to make a difference, RIGHT NOW! It is time to seize the day. Our number has been called, are we going to stand on the sidelines or get in the game! LETS DO IT! Matt Larsen [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
