Tom,
Thank you for finding the report and posting a link. As to the WISPA
comments, not bad for an industry that does not even show up in the
numbers ( see Figure 2: Household Online Connection page 12) probably
because the information was flawed.
Quoted from the Report Page 3
"All percentage estimates from the Knowledge Networks/SRI survey have
margins of error of plus or minus 7 percentage points or less, unless
otherwise noted."
After reading the Conclusion and the Recommendation for Executive Action
pgs 37 & 38. I thought about how some wireless providers were hesitant
to fill out the forms and give officials the information to find out
where broadband was being provided and by what technologies. Come to
find out the form will need to be reworked.
Below is the text for Recommendation for Executive Action
"In a draft of this report provided to FCC for review and comment, GAO
recommended that FCC identify and evaluate strategies for improving the
477 data such that the data provide a more accurate depiction of
residential broadband deployment throughout the country. In oral comments
regarding this recommendation, FCC staff acknowledged that the 477 data
have some limitations in detailing broadband deployment, but also noted
that there had recently been a proceeding examining its broadband data
collection efforts and that some changes to the data collection had been
implemented. In that proceeding, the commission also determined that it
would be costly and could impose large burdens on filers—particularly small
entities—to require any more detailed filings on broadband deployment.
Although FCC staff told us that analysis of potential costs had been
conducted, exact estimates of these costs and burdens have not yet been
determined. Moreover, many have expressed concern about ensuring that
all Americans—especially those in rural areas—have access to broadband
technologies. Policymakers concerned about full deployment of broadband
throughout the country will have difficulty targeting any assistance to
that end without accurate and reliable data on localized deployment. As
such, we
recommend that FCC develop information regarding the degree of cost and
burden that would be associated with various options for improving the
information available on broadband deployment and should provide that
information to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the House Energy and Commerce Committee in order to
help them determine what actions, if any, are necessary to employ going
forward."
Regards,
Dawn DiPietro
Tom DeReggi wrote:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06426.pdf
If interested in the WISPA submitted comments on the report....
Appendix V, Page 62-63.
Take note that this report will likely be referred to by every
legislators this year, for the basic review of the state of Broadband.
I find it an honor and victory, that WISPA was allowed to contribute
its comments for support of Wireless in the report.
I believe this report will benefit WISPs. It clearly shows, the need
for support of WISPs. One must ask themself, why are so many Americans
underserved? And how come the dominant technology providers that own
the majority market haven't served them yet? Maybe its time to support
the alternative solutions, that have not had much support comparatively?
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dawn DiPietro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org>;
<isp-wireless@isp-wireless.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 7:06 AM
Subject: [WISPA] GAO: Broadband Access Difficult To Measure
All,
It would seem there are flaws in the way information was collected
from the FCC. From the information collected it seems as though only
the telecoms are providing broadband and apparently not too quickly
in rural areas.
As quoted from the article;
"There's not only a lack of broadband access in rural areas of the
U.S., there's a lack of information about broadband access in rural
areas, according to
a new study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)."
Also quoted from the article;
"Wireless technology was cited as an alternative to the costs of
rolling out cable to rural areas, but difficulties in finding
available spectrum and negotiating
deals with municipalities hindered telecoms' entrance into providing
Wi-Fi access in both urban and rural areas. Local municipalities are
pursuing their
own initiatives to set up wireless Internet access in regions not
served by major telecom providers."
Full story here;
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/05/gao_broadband.html
Regards,
Dawn DiPietro
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