I am a founding member of Connect SI which is a broadband and economic development initiative aimed at improving economic development, in part, through better access to broadband in the 22 southern most counties of Illinois. This is similar but not exactly like the other initiatives referenced below. I have invited all WISPs in this region to join forces in this effort. Most just turn their noses up at it and say it is just to help the ILECs. It has helped me and I am not an ILEC. I started getting asked to meetings in front of schools, healthcare, municipalities, etc. as a direct result of my involvement in this effort. So far the ILECs have been part of the effort but have not controlled the agenda and have played fair.
I have been involved in building list servers for various interests in Connect SI to help them communicate and we have designed and built a simple database solution which allows people, businesses, schools, etc. to ask for broadband. The system logs the requests and forwards the requests on to all vested network providers in the Connect SI region. The providers who shun the effort do not get to see the requests. If I acted as other WISPs and shunned the effort then I guess I would have a similar opinion that it is designed to only help the ILECs. Since I am involved in helping the effort helps me as well. I find that many WISPs either lack the desire or just distrust any effort which is something they do not own or control completely. I used to be the same way. I have been burnt before. I do not open myself up to being a target. I also do not automaticaly distrust efforts which are maybe different than how I might attack a problem. I often think that think tanks, government interests and educators take a wrong turn in policy building such as community broadband development projects. Instead of simply ignoring the efforts this time I decided to be part of the plan. In doing so I was able to build many valuable contacts and open doors that were always shut before. It does not hurt to go into these community building efforts like this and decide you are going to make them work for your own interests as well as those of tthe group. If others try to make things go wrong you have some control if you are inside. If you do not take part then your voice does not get heard and your interests will inevitably be ignored. I have little doubt that ILECs control many of the referenced iitiatives dicussed below. I also doubt that many of the WISPs have tried to be part of these efforts. If they did then I am guessing those that did are laughing all the way to the bank wondering why all the WISP competitors around them have ignored the opportunities. If you are a WISP and someone asks you to attend a planning meeting for any broadband initiatives in your area I strongly suggest you take them up on it. You only share what information you want to share with them and being there means they tell you everything they are planning. It is the only place to be in these efforts from my perspective. If others here have been active in any of the referenced efforts please share your thoughts. From my end I see little to dislike when I am one of those inside the effort. Scriv On Jan 31, 2008 3:07 PM, Jack Unger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > There is a growing controversy centered on the "Connected Nation" > (Connect Kentucky, Connect Ohio, Connected Tennessee etc.) > political-business efforts. > > The reason is that it appears that the primary beneficiaries are the > ILEC phone companies and their drive to extend their power, influence > and business dominance. This occurs (of course) at the expense of WISPs > and small non-ILEC broadband providers. > > Here are some links so you can read up on it. > > (Commentary) > http://www.drewclark.com/connect-kentucky-article-raises-bell-lobby-specter/ > > (Original Art Brodsky article) http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1334 > > jack > > > > George Rogato wrote: > > http://www.connectedtennessee.org/mapping_&_research/availability_maps/ > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > > http://signup.wispa.org/ > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > > > > > > > -- > Jack Unger - President, Ask-Wi.Com, Inc. > Serving the Broadband Wireless Industry Since 1993 > FCC License # PG-12-25133 > Author of the Cisco Press Book - "Deploying License-Free Wireless WANs" > Vendor-Neutral Wireless Training-Troubleshooting-Consulting > Phone 818-227-4220 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
