Exactly Patrick. The rural telco's in my coverage area are getting those $$$$ per telephone served. They are not going to give it up without a fight. The only recourse would be to distribute USF funds across the providers providing Internet access and Land line access. That will not happen.
Scottie > You'd think there would be an excellent legal argument to fight that. > Seems it'd be difficult to enact a law that in effect discriminates > against certain classes of providers, especially since WISPs are the > only "pure play" broadband providers out there. Theorectically the > re-configured USF is meant to propel broadband...so how could the feds > exclude the only entity that provides broadband first, other services > second. All other providers have "broadband" as a secondary play. > > > Patrick Leary > Aperto Networks > 813.426.4230 mobile > > -----Original Message----- > From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On > Behalf Of Brian Webster > Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:02 AM > To: 'Fred Goldstein'; 'WISPA General List' > Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF Reform Bill Introduced - The most > compellingreason to document and map your network coverage ever > > Fred, > That is understood, however I think that WISPA may try to lobby > to have the term "wireline" removed such that any technology that > delivers the defined broadband and voice services should be qualified to > meet the 75% requirement. This is still a bill and not a law so there > are opportunities to change this although I don't expect that one to go > through without a fight. In this case we might be able to ally ourselves > with the cable industry. I am sure they would love to see Telco's lose > their USF subsidies in markets that are served by cable. > > > > Brian > > -----Original Message----- > From: Fred Goldstein [mailto:fgoldst...@ionary.com] > Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:42 AM > To: bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com; WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF Reform Bill Introduced - The most compelling > reason to document and map your network coverage ever > > At 7/29/2010 08:01 AM, Brian wrote: >>Hit me off list and I can offer some suggestions. > > As I mentioned, the 75% rule only applies to wireline providers (i.e., > cable), so mapping WISP coverage buys nothing. > > The Boucher-Terry bill has nothing in it to help WISPs and plenty to > hurt them, including a rather high tax to support your competitors. > > > >>Brian >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On >>Behalf Of RickG >>Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:24 PM >>To: WISPA General List >>Subject: Re: [WISPA] USF Reform Bill Introduced - The most compelling > reason >>to document and map your network coverage ever >> >>I'd like to but I dont know where to begin and with my limited time I >>cant even try to figure it out. >> >>On Wed, Jul 28, 2010 at 12:37 PM, Brian Webster >><bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com> wrote: >> > Steve Coran just posted the message below to the WISPA FCC committee > list. >>I >> > took particular note to the following statement: >> > >> > >> > >> > - would reduce or deny support to wireline incumbents in areas where > at >> > least 75% of households can receive voice and broadband from a > competitive >> > provider that does not receive support >> > >> > >> > >> > Now the way I read the above statement is that if a WISP covers 75% > of a >> > current USF recipients service area, there will no longer be > eligibility >>to >> > receive USF funds. Remember if they have broadband they also have > access >>to >> > many VOIP providers even if you do not provide VOIP services. Vonage > and >> > Skype come to mind, not to mention cellular coverage. This would be > a > huge >> > factor in leveling the playing field for WISP's in rural markets! I > cannot >> > see a more compelling reason to document and map your networks than > this. >> > Not only will it prevent yet another subsidized competitor from > coming > in >>to >> > your service area, but it will also erode funding for any Telco who >> > currently receives USF in your markets. This would bring wireless as > a >> > delivery method to the forefront because there are then no > artificial >> > revenue streams subsidizing the cost to deliver last mile service. > We > all >> > know that wireless has the least cost per household passed in low > density >> > markets. >> > >> > >> > >> > There are many ways to document and map your coverage areas. First > and >> > foremost though is that you should file the Form 477 as required. > Next > one >> > should map their network with an accurate service area where you > would >> > confidently offer service. This can be done many ways (including > paying > me >> > to do it). This also shows a very important reason to be > participating > in >> > your state broadband mapping efforts. I would expect that those > state > maps >> > will become one of the major verification sources to establish the > 75% >> > coverage. The FCC 477 database will probably become another > verification >> > source. If you are listed in both of them it would be very hard for >>someone >> > to say you don't exist and don't offer coverage in their areas. >> > >> > >> > >> > One of the downsides to this bill is that all broadband providers > will > be >> > required to contribute to the fund. My gut feeling though is that if >>WISP's >> > were accurately mapped and documented it would show so much less of > the > US >> > is unserved by broadband and thus the required funding through USF > to > get >>it >> > there will be much less. >> > >> > Brian >> > >> > ---------------------------------- >> > >> > >> > >> > Last week, Reps. Boucher (D-VA) and Terry (R-NE) introduced > legislation >>that >> > would reform the Universal Service Fund. The Press Release, > Overview, >> > Section by Section summary and text of the bill are available at > this >>link: >> > >> > >>http://www.boucher.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id= > 1579 > & >>Itemid=122 >> > >> > >> > >> > I have not read these documents, but plan to do so soon. A few > highlights >> > that the trade press has noted: >> > >> > - would reduce or deny support to wireline incumbents in areas > where >>at >> > least 75% of households can receive voice and broadband from a > competitive >> > provider that does not receive support >> > >> > - FCC would create cost model that includes broadband in > figuring >> > support models >> > >> > - competitive bidding among wireless carriers for USF support >> > >> > - no more than two wireless CETCs could get support in the same > area >> > >> > - carriers would have 5 years to provide broadband throughout > their >> > service areas, or would lose support >> > >> > - all broadband providers would pay into USF to expand > contribution >>base >> > >> > - FCC to decide appropriate speed for broadband >> > >> > >> > >> > Rep. Boucher has said that the bill is on his "front burner" and > that he >> > wants to get the legislation passed this Fall. Please feel free to >>comment >> > on-list AFTER you've reviewed the documents so that you can promote >> > education of the WISPA membership and help shape whatever position > WISPA >>may >> > wish to take as the bill works its way through Congress. Thanks. >> > >> > >> > >> > Stephen E. Coran >> > >> > Rini Coran, PC >> > >> > 1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600 >> > >> > Washington, D.C. 20036 >> > >> > 202.463.4310 - voice >> > >> > 202.669.3288 - cell >> > >> > 202.296.2014 - fax >> > >> > sco...@rinicoran.com - e-mail >> > >> > www.rinicoran.com >> > >> > www.telecommunicationslaw.com >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>----------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > - >>---- >> > WISPA Wants You! 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