Arrg, I respectfully disagree. Sitting back idle and watching a bank get robbed or a person get mugged, is it an exceptable answer to say, "I didn't ask for the money for my self" so its OK to sit idle and watch others create crimes? Its just as wrong to sit back and watch 7 billion dollars of public money be spend poorly and given to the wrong people and for wrong purposes without atleast standing up and trying to influence better ways for it to be spent and allocated for the purpose it was intended for. I ask for handouts because I am confident that if I get a handout, I'll spend that money better and more favorably than the other persons that might have gotten the handouts. And I'm sure most people that applied for handouts feel the same way, that they'd spend it better and wiser themselves. We have a responsibilty to ask for it, and influence who gets it, to help guarantee its spent wisely. Ignoring the money will not result in the money being returned, or being well spent. I was very proud of the first half of my adult life, I did it my way, and never asked for a dime from nobody. But there became a period in my life when I learn that accepting help is not a dirty word, and asking for help was an even less dirty word. More good can be accomplished with a team. Will we get help from the government? Is the Government the best team member? I really dont know. What I can tell you is that the chances that I'll ever see a dime of this money is a thousand to one, but that does not stop me from wanting to be involved, and by going into it with that acceptance of the odds, there is nothing to loose by trying. What I can also say is that "its not all about me", or for that matter you, and whether you or I benefit. Maybe it really is about the public benefiting. You can preach your anti-government rhetoric all you want, and there may even be some truth to it, but at the end of the day, I can guarantee you only one thing. That is $7 billion dollars will be spent. Because of that, it is inevitable that there will be a percentage of American and Commuities that will newly gain broadband. And after considering the economic development benefit, regardless of the cost and efficiency of the money spent, there will be an ROI "eventually." At this stage, I'm not confident if any WISPA member will be helped. But at the end of the day, I will be proud of the way I spent my time, because I know that I didn't just sit back and watch, but actually helped increase the chance to get money in the hands of people that I respect and trust to be most worthy to spend the money for the public good, and their own. I'm very interested to see who Round1 winners end up being. And lobby effort for Round2 has now started, and WISPA will continue to lead the effort to influence possitive change, and optimize chances for its members to particpate and gain help.
I believe the same applies to USF. We can stand by and watch, or we can attempt to influence. And whether or not we become benefactors is not the only measure of success for our efforts. Sometimes simply influencing possitive change in some capacity is enough to make it all worth it. When it comes to USF, one option is to tell them to drop the program, and stop regulating. But once again, probably not a wise approach. USF is in the hotseat for a change, and Broadband to Rural America is on the top of the legislators' and FCC's list, and looking for a way to pay for it. USF is one way that burdens Tax Payer's less. Its going to be very convenient to extend USF to broadband in my opinion. And I wouldn't be surprised if they try and throw VOIP providers into the list of contributors. If we dont speak up, the only option is we'll get the shaft. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: "MDK" <rea...@muddyfrogwater.us> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:35 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF changes? > Yes, they do understand it. You're not understanding the point. The > telcos have big bucks to lobby with, and benefit the regulators. We do > not. Thus, we will NEVER be on their "list". We cannot get onto the > top of the rolodex until we have millions with which to lobby, and can > legally bribe a bunch of government agencies. > > There is no benefit to offering them data, free labor, etc. The > mandates > will get larger, deeper, more and more costly, and the benefits promised > by > certain individuals will never EVER happen. And, should it ever reach > the > point we actually pinch the telcos or cablecos enough for them to get > concerned, they will call in the favors and have us obliterated. Welcome > to the new generation of thug politics in DC. Just look what's happening > to broadcast industry, the insurance industry, etc. "You exist to > benefit > our political aspirations. The moment you fail in that regard, you will > be > shredded, beaten, whipped, ruined, bankrupted and criminalized". Either > you're a political ally, or you're toast. > > This administration has removed all semblances of public service and has > officially made it federal policy to conduct political wars upon the > people, > businesses, enterprises, and even the states, if there is any political > benefit to doing so. It is federal malevolence at the highest level ever > seen before in this country. And it's getting worse by massive leaps and > bounds. Even appointees to the FCC have made this clear, in > demonstrating > they believe in the direction and control of media and industry for the > benefit of the political class. > > I argued years ago that surrendering our sovereignty to the feds was a > recipe for industry disaster. So far, I've been called stupid, extreme, > radical, idiotic, mindless, and a kook for thinking so. Trying being a > health insurance company, doctor, investor, banker or any one of a number > of > recently demonized groups. The White House has decided it can control > your prices, wages, services, products, and policies, if ANY public money > passes to you or even if you just happen to be in an industry that gets > political attention. Even if it just means a bailed out company did > business with you. Or, your service is considered "important" or > "essential". > > They haven't gotten around to us yet, but we're in the crosshairs. After > all, we're in business to make a profit, and anyone making a profit needs > to be slapped down and destroyed. We should have stood for our > independence, instead of lusting after public money, but no, principle is > foolish, and money is all that matters, I was told. Well, you got what > you > wanted. And I'm still around to say "I told you so". The pursuit of > favors, public money, loans, grants... That was just too enticing, wasn't > it? The country's going to hell in a handbasket financially, because > everyone's holding their hand out waiting for someone else's money to flow > their way, courtesy of politicians. And lots of the leadership of WISPA > was arguing and holding out the promise of "getting someone else's money" > for the industry. > > Well, ALL of you, and ALL of the same greedy mentalities all through our > industry and nation have set the situation up that it's all come home to > roost, and the taxpayers are... well, paying for it. Unemployment, > ruined > retirements, bankruptcy, and so on. > > You should have stood on principle, not on greed. Best never invite me > to > an "industry gathering" or I'll tell you what I really think. It would > not > be pretty. > > I haven't read this list in months, been busy. But nothing has changed. > We've still got WISPA leadership promoting the lusting after public money. > Damn you for your immorality. The consequences are all around us, the > people have suffered greatly because of that kind of thinking... And > you're > STILL DOING IT??? > > I don't want to hear "they're going to give it anyway, might as well get > your share". Hell no. We should put our country first, and the lust > for > easy "someone else's money" given the boot. But we've been sold out to > the FCC by former leadership urging the FCC to regulate and mandate stuff > on > our part for them. In return, of course, for vague hints something might > "come our way". > > Shame on every one of you who took, is trying to get, or even thinking of > trying to get your hands on someone else's money. It wasn't just a > political matter after all. It was moral, too. And look at the > consequences it wrought. > > Ok, enough. I'm angry now and starting to get worked up. > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Scottie Arnett" <sarn...@info-ed.com> > Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:55 AM > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF changes? > >> And they forgot all about the other ISP's out there. They are leaving it >> up to the telcos to supply the demand! Do they(The FCC) not understand >> that other companies besides the telcos and cable companies offer >> Internet >> access? >> >> Scott >> >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- >> From: RickG <rgunder...@gmail.com> >> Reply-To: WISPA General List <wireless@wispa.org> >> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:49:39 -0500 >> >>>Warning: "The bill also drew early praise from AT&T" >>> >>>On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:10 PM, Blair Davis <the...@wmwisp.net> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3847366/Lawmakers+Float+Bill+to+Boost+Rural+Broadband.htm >>>> >>>> I'm not sure I need any more gov. interference! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! 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