Comments inline:
> 9. I'm conflicted on this. I'm not sure WISPA is having > any real effect, but I'm not sure they are not. [We believe we had a > major > impact in the TV Whitespaces NPRM and outcome, it has taught us the > importance of strong legal counsel in Washington DC and it has assisted us > in talking to the right people.] I know I'll miss some things here, but lets see what I can come up with off the top of my head: CALEA standard. WISPA has the ONLY free to everyone standard that's made it through the whole process. We worked directly with the FBI on our standard. There are standards out there that the FBI is said to be fighting against. Form 477 FAQ #8. That one is the direct result of a group of WISPs that met with the Form 477 folks to help clarify exactly what WISPs are expeted to do and how we're to do it. Sure saved me a LOT of time and heartache. Clarification of the new updated FCC rules after the last major upgrade to them. Got the FCC to agree that a routed group of individual AP's could fall under the same higher powered 2.4ghz rules as active antennas. Too bad no one built and certified a system of 8 or 10 ap's with very narrow sectors (how about 24db grids :-). Did you guys know that we CAN use more than 4 watts at the AP's if the systems are designed right and are certified as such? WISPA got that interpretation of the rules done. Worked the Whitespaces issue for 4 years. It tried to die a natural death several times. We kept after it every chance we got. Done multiple training sessions for FCC staff. (we teach them what really goes on out in the world.) > > 10. The only way we are going to be heard is if we have a > full > time presence just like the big boys. [In process since July!] Not true. We're heard every time we open our mouths. They (the FCC) LOVE to hear from us. We are the guys in the trenches. We're the ones with the bloody knuckles. They know that. I've never been turned down for a meeting at the FCC, I've met with all of the commissioners but one. I've had meetings with the chairman's office. In fact I met with Martin back when he was still a commissioner. Got the pictures to prove it :-). None of this is because of me or anyone I know. It's because of who we are within the internet industry. > > 11. I feel the dues should be based on a WISP's subscriber > count. Vendor dues should be based on a member's annual revenues or some > other metric. [That is one of the options we are looking at.] I said that since before we even were WISPA. > > 12. Can't agree to raising the price when I don't know the > current price. [$250 annually] > > 13. No, but I would pay more for stuff that I can reach out > and touch. Buying groups, documents, passworded site with super vault > filled > with treasures..... [We are currently developing a members only section > on > the website where these documents can be stored. We will also be > developing > further member discounts with our vendors over the next few months. There > are already some discounts listed on the > <http://www.wispa.org/?page_id=256> Vendor Discounts page on the website.] Don't forget what WISPA's mission is. Rick, is the mission statement right at the top of the home page yet? > > 14. I would rather see income rise because of membership > increases before raising the dues. [I agree, however, after 4 years and > some major current lobbying efforts and a need for an Executive director > or > staff, we have reached a level where we need to reassess our dues > structure > to achieve all the desires of our members] > > 15. only slightly, since it tends to drive out the smaller > startups! [We are very aware of this, it is always at the forefront of > our > thought processes] > > 16. I think they should remain the same. > > 17. Bring forth products and services, then take a cut of > them > to fund lobbying efforts. [This is also something we are considering] > > 18. I would need to see more specific examples of how > additional funding is needed to achieve tangible goals. [See above, if > this > doesn't answer your questions, email me offlist] > > 19. actually this should be unknown or N/A as I am not fully > aware of WISPAs lobbying efforts. [See above] > > 20. I think that indepth lobbying that can be effective is > critical. WISPA has shown massive progress and influence on the process > and > anything supporting those continued efforts would be well received. Can I > just donate money toward lobbying and not join? [Thank you for your > encouragement. Of course, email me offlist and we can take care of your > request but why would you not join?] I agree with Rick here. The money (more importantly the time) always helps. But part of what adds weight to our statements is numbers. The more members we have the more people we can speak for and the more government will listen. One of the things I've been taught by our friends in the FCC is that they LOVE working with a trade org. They are much less likely to get conflicting opinions this way. Naturally that makes their jobs easier. Money matters, time matters and bodies matter. It's a package that's greater than the sum of it's individual parts. laters, marlon > > > > Respectively, > > > > Rick Harnish > > General Manager - Midwest Region > > Great American Broadband > > 260-827-2482 > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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! 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