----- Original Message -----
From: "Brett Glass" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <isp-wireless@isp-wireless.com>
Cc: <wireless@wispa.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: [isp-wireless] USF fund reform
Some comments:
WISPA is a the WISP industry's only industry owned and
operated trade association. We're a 501c6 corporation with a 7 person,
membership elected board.
A 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation cannot be "owned" by anyone. WISPA's
board does act as if it "owns" the group, though, so this fact may be lost
on them. Also, several of the members of that board claimed that they
would step down after the organization was founded and then did not.
Sigh. The MEMBERSHIP owns the corp. We can modify or change it anytime
that the membership votes to do so.
The goals for USF should be clarified. Are laptops for kids
part of the program goals?
Even to ask this question shows a fundamential misunderstanding of the
concept of universal service.
Agreed. That's why I was shocked to find out that USF had funded 68,000
laptops for school kids. That number came up in Senate testimony about USF
reform.
Was it the original intent that USF exclude small local entrepreneurs and
give preferential treatment to the incumbent?
But of course! Remember, it was designed to replace cross-subsidies within
the Bell System -- the original incumbents. Even most wireless carriers do
not get USF funding.
As USF changes, do the changes have a clear goal? Is this just a
mechanism to try to put more funds into the program otherwise leave it as
is? Or does Congress want to see substantial changes in the program that
do more to foster rather than stifle innovation?
Congress wants campaign contributions and votes. Anything else is
incidental.
WISPA believes that market forces should mostly be left to
their own.
Incorrect grammar (embarrassing).
Without government tweaking. USF should be canceled completely. If a
real need for outside funding in regions or small pockets turns out to be
needed, address those issues on a case by case basis. At the very least
the USF program needs major reform as its cost based fee structure
encourages abuse.
Poor writing style and no citations of sources. The same is true for the
rest of the document. I'd be embarrassed to be a member of a group that
submitted any such document.
Feel free to provide better wording at any time. The intent of releasing
that doccument before submission was to get constructive input.
marlon
--Brett Glass
** ISPCON Spring 2006 - May 16 - 18 - Baltimore, MD www.ispcon.com **
** THE EVENT for ISPs, WISPS, CLECs and WebHosts **
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