With this as well as many other issues that WISPA is trying to do, you might look at USTA and OPASTCO as a templates. They do for the small telcos what WISPA is trying to do for us.
----- Original Message ----- From: "George Rogato" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 8:30 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Connect Ohio Program? anyone heard of this > One of the things I had envisioned when I created the WISPA Promo > committee, was just this. Promoting our wisps to the localities and > helping reinforce their market position. > > Problem is, we have not had enough help to get their yet. Our membership > isn't all that big, so the volunteer pool is small. > > If anyone wants to get a group going that would help promote local wisps > land their muni deals, they should speak up. > > Maybe we can get a program going with enough volunteers. > > George > > > Brian Webster wrote: >> This sounds more like an awareness and image problem for the local WISP >> industry. Some of it could be lack of effective marketing. It might be a >> good idea for every WISP to contact their local/county Planning and >> economic >> development offices and introduce themselves, show them the coverage area >> and explain what it is you do. Typically anything like this project will >> deal with these local offices. If they know you exist, you might have a >> better chance of being part of the solution. It is amazing how much of a >> vacuum those organizations live in sometimes :-) >> >> >> >> Thank You, >> Brian Webster >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Behalf Of Kurt Fankhauser >> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:55 PM >> To: 'WISPA General List' >> Subject: [WISPA] Connect Ohio Program? anyone heard of this >> >> >> Just got done reading an article in my local newspaper here. Apparently >> there was a meeting here in the county about how we need more broadband >> options. Funny thing is no one ever called any of the 4 wireless >> providers >> in the county here and asked them to attend. And there is a group touring >> around with the governor called "Connect Ohio" with a moto of "No child >> left >> un-connected." Has anyone here heard any of this at all. I've never heard >> any one mention it but apparently it sounds as if this has been going on >> for >> a while. And then at the end of the article there is the local American >> Red >> Cross guy saying we are like a third world country, funny thing is they >> called me up about getting service in at that Red Cross Chapter and they >> were supposed to get hooked up but never did cause they canceled the >> install! >> >> >> >> Article is attached. >> >> >> >> Kurt Fankhauser >> WAVELINC >> P.O. Box 126 >> Bucyrus, OH 44820 >> 419-562-6405 >> www.wavelinc.com >> >> >> >> >> >> _____ >> >> From: NewsBank -- service provider for Telegraph-Forum Archives >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:41 PM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Subject: Telegraph-Forum Document >> >> >> >> >> Telegraph-Forum (Bucyrus, OH) >> >> >> Telegraph-Forum (Bucyrus, OH) >> >> July 24, 2008 >> >> What can better broadband mean to Crawford County? >> >> >> >> By Gary Ogle >> >> Telegraph-Forum >> >> >> >> GALION -- A high-tech future demands high speed Internet. A large group >> of >> community leaders from Crawford County dreamed and discussed Wednesday >> afternoon about what better broadband service could mean to the people >> they >> help, the people they hire, the people they serve and those they educate. >> >> "One of the biggest problems," North Central State's Don Plotts said, "is >> getting people to understand they need technology." >> >> The session at Galion Community Hospital, part of Gov. Ted Strickland's >> Connect Ohio initiative "to accelerate technology and close the digital >> divide," was led by Sage Cutler and Gary Lambert of Connect Ohio. People >> from all facets of Crawford County, described as leaders in the >> eCommunity, >> were invited to discuss how their companies and organizations use >> broadband >> now and how it could impact them in the future. >> >> "This is the second benchmark work session in the state," Cutler said. >> Gallia County was the first and all 88 counties in the state will begin >> the >> process within the next two years. >> >> Cutler said Crawford County was selected to be among the first "because >> there were some other broadband initiatives (here)." >> >> Those in attendance included government officials from across the county, >> representatives of business and industry, education, health care and >> community organizations. >> >> Part of the process was to divide them into nine "sectors" as defined by >> their profession or the organization they represented. Wednesday's >> meeting >> had participants in seven of the nine sectors. >> >> Each sector discussed where it was at locally regarding broadband use, >> its >> application and implication, and what could be improved in the near >> future >> with better broadband resources. Cutler explained that Connect Ohio is a >> public/private partnership. >> >> "It's not costing the counties a thing," Cutler said. "That's going to be >> the cost the providers themselves invest." >> >> The concept is that by detailing the needs and potential for effective >> broadband usage in each county, Internet providers will have a better >> idea >> of where and how to invest in improving service. >> >> "It's driven by supply and demand like every other commodity," Cutler >> said. >> >> The importance of quality broadband use is obvious to a business like >> Lifetouch Church Directories of Galion which deals in publications using >> digital photography. >> >> "It's a huge value. The affordable availability to of broadband is >> critical >> to our company's future," Steve McElhatten said. "We have communications >> that come in large data files. These use are just huge files." >> >> The faster those files can be transmitted, the faster they can be >> processed. >> >> To the general public better Internet service with broadband can lower >> transportation costs because more people will be able to work from home. >> It >> can also mean more affordable opportunities in education because of the >> availability of improved and more comprehensive online classes. >> >> But at first glance availability and affordability don't appear to be a >> problem in Crawford County. >> >> Connect Ohio's research shows that the county has higher than average >> availability compared to the rest of the state. The average cost in Ohio >> for >> broadband service to households is just over $35 per month. In Crawford >> County the price ranges from $29.92 to $32.52. >> >> But the county's rate of adaptability, efficient and effective use of the >> Internet, is just 36 percent compared to 55 percent statewide. >> >> "Higher availability, lower adaptability," Lambert said. "The question is >> why?" >> >> Many of those in attendance agreed with Plott about convincing people of >> the >> value and necessity of broadband Internet service. >> >> "Our biggest issues aren't necessarily access, it's more awareness and >> adoption," said Crawford County OSU extension agent and professor, Steve >> Prohaska, who sat in on the agriculture sector. Citing the value of >> real-time information, Prohaska used the example of the effect of >> Japanese >> beetles on a farmer's crop of corn. >> >> "People can make or save money immediately with the click of a button," >> Prohaska said, noting agriculture was still the county's biggest >> industry. >> >> Wynford superintendent, Steve Mohr, said Internet access in students' >> homes >> to communicate with parents about their children and students' ability to >> do >> research outside the classrooom is a pressing issue. >> >> "One of the problems we have is a lack of Internet service, particularly >> for >> low income, rural families," Mohr said. >> >> Part of the Connect Ohio initiative is a portion called No Child Left >> Unconnected that has a goal of placing computers in the homes of >> disadvantaged families. >> >> Gary Miller, Crawford County commissioner, said providing information and >> services for constituents and sharing information between government >> entities would be valuable. >> >> "Dollars, time and people would be high on our priority list," Miller >> said. >> >> Another local issue regarding broadband service is band width. The wider >> the >> band, the greater volume and complexity of information it can carry. >> While >> some homes and businesses may currently have a form of broadband, cost >> and >> availability may prohibit them from receiving the type of service that is >> most beneficial to their needs. >> >> "That's the problem here in Crawford County, we're at the end of the >> line," >> said Mike Morton, head of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. >> "We're like a third world country when it comes to being connected. >> Afghanistan is connected, Crawford County is not." >> >> The group's next meeting is tentatively set for 3 p.m., Sept. 17 at >> Lowe-Volk Park. >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> 419-563-9225 >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ---- >> 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/ > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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/
