Rick,
An excellent post! Hearing the comments from the FCC meeting I think the
time is now to do just what you state.
Thank You,
Brian Webster
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Harnish [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 12:03 PM
To: 'WISPA General List'
Subject: [WISPA] Industry, FCC and WISPA observations
I have observed a discussion on the members only list, talked to people with
insight and given it a lot of thought.
1.) I do think that WISPA needs to make a stand to promote membership
compliance to Part 15 rules. We should modify our mission statement and our
goals to reflect this.
2.) WISPA should assist and encourage non-certified vendors such as StarOS,
Mikrotik and others to certify hardware/software/antenna systems that will
allow operators using these platforms to reach certification compliance with
minimal capital outlay.
3.) 100% Compliancy should be a goal with a Target Date of completion. I
personally believe that this Target Date should be no more than 18 months
out. We need to show the FCC that our industry recognizes the rules and our
members are striving to bring their networks into compliance on a timeline
that is affordable and logistically achievable so that our clients have
minimal disruption. This will send a message to vendors that certification
is not an option anymore. If they want to market their products to our
industry, they need to invest in certification. That may raise the price of
equipment, but it is a necessary increase that our industry must bear if we
are to survive.
4.) We also need to recognize that the FCC has essentially given our
industry a gift with unlicensed spectrum (although not their original intent
with the spectrum). This gift can be taken away with a swoop of a pen.
5.) WISP operators that publicly defy the FCC laws and mandates to fill out
necessary forms such as Form 477 and 445 are in direct opposition to the
goals and ideals of WISPA. IMHO, if a WISP operator promotes anti-lawful
cooperation with FCC rules and guidelines on WISPA listservs, that operator
should be banned from the WISPA listservs. WISPA does need to improve
credibility with the FCC and we cannot do this by allowing tyrannical posts
that blatantly oppose following the law. That does not mean that we have to
silence discussion or opposition to current rules, it just means we need to
clarify that current WISPA policy does not agree with their personal views.
If their intent is to change WISPA policy, they need to submit a policy
change submission to the WISPA board for consideration and possible polling
of the membership.
6.) An observation that our competition (ILECs and Cable Companies) are
aggressively lobbying the FCC to shut down unlicensed bands as unfair
competition and an industry that in their view, openly breaks the law, is
inevitable.
7.) Recognition of the damage that will be done to the rural market economy
with the removal of the WISP industry is inconceivable. It is our
responsibility to protect the markets we serve by reaching out for
compliance as soon as we can.
8.) Our industry has developed dramatically in the last 10 years, equipment
choices have improved, techniques have improved, network design has
improved. Yet we still have manufacturers who refuse to certify their
products. Their excuse seems to be that their customers will not pay enough
to warrant certification. This seems to be a lame excuse in my eyes. I
recognize the quick lifespan of wireless components these days makes the
certification process very frustrating, to spend money and time getting
certified only to have new technology change the market a short time later
must be a manufacturer's nightmare. The fact is though, that new investment
is entering this industry and more options will be manufactured that will be
certified. Current non-certified vendors will face expulsion from the
industry unless they step up to the plate quickly.
9.) WISPA is run by a volunteer board of operators at this time. To become
a truly effective trade association, we must look to hire a full time staff
which will form procedures, policy, update website content, email members,
collect dues, manage books, lobby more effectively and work through legal
matters with FCC versed attorneys. While in its infancy, the volunteer
effort was essential. Now that we are gaining ground and presented with
industry wide challenges, we need better organization and full time staff to
better manage the association and direction.
10.) Many current board members have been building WISPA through its
formation from early 2004 and have put hours and hours of time and personal
finances into it's success. Along with this effort as come some stagnation
of ideas and commitments. Don't get me wrong, there are great ideas
presented every week and John's recent Form 445 solution is one example of
what WISPA and working together can do for our members. I do however think
it is time for new members to step up and consider running for the board.
It is a rewarding experience and I personally have made great friends and
relationships with vendors and fellow WISPs across the country.
These are my thoughts and not necessarily the thoughts of the whole WISPA
board. We are at a critical point in our industry, in our association and
in our future. We can step forward and make the right stand or we can sit
back, bicker and complain. Which do you think will get us to a successful
future soon?
Respectfully,
Rick Harnish
President
OnlyInternet Broadband & Wireless, Inc.
260-827-2482
Founding Member of WISPA
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Marty Dougherty
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:54 AM
To: 'Principal WISPA Member List'
Subject: RE: [Wisp] WISPA Membership Required to ba 100% FCC Certified
Cliff:
I fully agree with your last thought.
I think WISPA should only "reinforce" and "require" that we follow the
rules. If you're not following the rules the sanction would be to drop
the member from WISPA. If another member is having issues with an
illegal operator then that member should go to the FCC or civil action.
The main idea is that the FCC will know that WISPA members all support
being legal. If a WISP wants credibility in the industry they will want
to be a full fledge member of WISPA. (perhaps there could be some type
of outreach from WISPA before a member takes action??)
Enforcement would have to be good faith and members caught cheating
would face being dropped from WISPA. (some method is needed for this). I
bet it's already in the by-laws that members cannot lie or misrepresent
themselves.
Grace period could be as long as needed if going forward is all legal.
Perhaps the grace period is 3 years- lots can change in 3 years- The key
is we take a stand against illegal systems, stop openly talking about
building them and have an official "plan" to get rid of them some day.
That is what the FCC wants to see. (especially going forward)
Marty
__________________________________________
Marty Dougherty
CEO
Roadstar Internet Inc
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
703-623-4542 (Cell)
703-554-6620 (office)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Cliff Leboeuf
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:15 AM
To: Principal WISPA Member List
Subject: [Wisp] WISPA Membership Required to ba 100% FCC Certified
Marty,
Not all WISP's are members of WISPA.
If WISPA adopts the position that you would like them to, do you think
WISPA should then assist any member that has to 'fight' with a
non-certified WISP that is causing harm to the member?
If so, how would you suggest WISPA get involved in such a situation.
Also, what time-frame do you propose allowing any non-certified member
get 100% compliant?
How do you propose that WISPA enforce certification? Will it be on a
signing a 'good-faith' document? How would WISPA audit the membership
for compliance.
I don't plan to blast or be rude to you, but a well laid plan needs to
be adopted by WISPA before WISPA takes such a stance IMO.
Finally, most organizations begin with just a 'few' organizers. As an
organization grows, conflicts occur and a wider perspective is gained.
This is how an organization evolves to what the majority of its members
want.
- Cliff
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Marty Dougherty
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 5:57 AM
To: 'Principal WISPA Member List'
Subject: [Wisp] RE: [WISPA] Brief report from FCC visit
Thanks for the update Tom.
So Folks- is WISPA ready to make a rock solid stand about using illegal
gear yet and getting those "little stickers"????
I would like to see:
Wispa members have to commit to deploy only legal systems going forward.
WISPA members need to have a plan to get illegal systems of out their
network or get their gear legal. This needs to be real.
All discussions on the public WISPA list about building illegal systems
etc needs to stop.
I already know that a couple of you will blast, insult and generally be
rude to me but that's OK- In fact, I expect it. But I am confident that
the majority of the members want this addressed.
There are going to be many issues facing WISPA in the future. There has
to be a process to poll the members and get direction. I cannot believe
the plan was for a few WISPA members to set all policy.
I have also asked in the past for any documents etc that explains the
by-laws of WISPA and the official process of polling members. Does it
exist? Someone blasted me about joining the board etc- well, what's the
process? Is it written up?
Marty
__________________________________________
Marty Dougherty
CEO
Roadstar Internet Inc
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
703-623-4542 (Cell)
703-554-6620 (office)
_______________________________________________
WISP mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wisp
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