Yes, we provided service to some WA schools many years ago when K-20 was formed. We still do some redundant service for schools. The difference is way back when K-20 came along, local ISP's really didn't have much of an ability to compete. Wireless was new and slow. It was hard to even compete with T-1's. That isn't the case now. We can provide more bandwidth, cheaper than the ILEC's can. It really just seems to be political. I am looking for a way to show the Legislators that other states have figured a way to work with the local providers.
I heard the WA K-20 network was beginning to struggle. The Telcos haven't kept up with the bandwidth demand and again, local ISP's are able to deliver more bandwidth, cheaper. Are you seeing this in your market? By the way, where are you providing service? thanks for the reply. Kevin -----Original Message----- From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Spott Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 8:34 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] State Education Networks? In WA state the K-20 is strictly telco. (Verizon & Qwest). The WA-K-20 is pretty much a gold standard as far as educational networks goes. ryan On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:17 PM, Kevin Owen <ko...@fsr.com> wrote: > The State I provide service in (Idaho) is in the process of building a > Statewide Educational Network. I am interested in hearing from any of you > are providing service in a State that has built a State Educational Network > and if so, are local providers used to provide any of the last miles > services to the schools? > > Idaho started by saying they would work with the local providers, however, > now they have changed their tune and local providers are not given the > opportunity to even bid on the service. > > Qwest is charging at least 3 - 5 times what any of the other local ISP's > could or would charge for the same or more bandwidth. We are simply told we > are not able to provide the service due to technical reasons, however, the > State thus far has not defined what those technical reasons are. The > difference in cost per year is in the millions. > > Our State IT group is also saying this is how it is done in other states to > provide a quality and cost effective network. > > So does anybody provide any last mile services to any Statewide educational > network? > > Thanks, > > Kevin > First Step Internet, LLC > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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/
