I think we should consider supporting it only as our fallback position. I think our primary mission should be on bringing awareness that it makes no sense to raise government money by selling off the one asset (spectrum) required to bring affordable and plentiful broadband to the masses to the highest bidders and then turn around and pay those same bidders to build broadband.
It is insane. Just give us the spectrum. We'll build the damn broadband. It is that easy. The "voucher" should be the exclusive spectrum license granted to those who build the tower and serve the broadband. Why do we have to have auctions, USF and go broke with paying out trillions in stimulus. Free Spectrum Licenses = Universal low-cost broadband. Problem solved. Scriv On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 10:26 AM, Charles Wu <c...@cticonnect.com> wrote: > It looks like a success-based "voucher" technologically neutral system for > USF Reform/CAF is what's being proposed by the RCA (Rural Cellular > Association) > > http://rca-usa.org/press/rca-press-releases/five-things-the-fcc-can-do-to-accelerate-broadband-deployment/914048 > > Perhaps WISPA should/could partner up with them for a stronger voice? > > -Charles > > -----Original Message----- > From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On > Behalf Of Jeromie Reeves > Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 11:49 PM > To: WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] FCC Favors Shifting Rural Subsidies To Broadband > > We need to have the USF turned into a voucher credit system that the > end user can apply to what ever supplier they chose. Maybe its not > the best idea, but I do not feel I have heard of a better one. Better > for /the users/ not better for the I/CLECs and other > very vested interests. > > > On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 5:43 AM, Fred Goldstein <fgoldst...@ionary.com> wrote: >> At 2/11/2011 01:06 AM, JohnS wrote: >>> The FCC is looking for comments, so we all need to make >>> > it quite clear that the funds should be available for any and all >>> > broadband providers! >>> > >>> > http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20110207/tc_nf/77213 >>> > >>> > Bret >>> > >>> >>> >>>We should comment. The comment should be that we do not support any >>>form of broadband subsidies and that USF should be eliminated. It is a >>>New Internet Tax. We should all call it that and get people riled up >>>about it. >> >> The FCC can't eliminate USF entirely. It is statutory: The Telecom >> Act of 1996 established USF and called for it to keep rural telephone >> rates comparable to urban rates. Because rural states get two >> senators just like big states, they have undue influence on subsidy >> legislation. Ted Stevens of Alaska was a leader here; he later >> wanted the FCC to outlaw VoIP, since it threatened the costly toll >> minutes that paid into USF. >> >> The new proposal makes matters worse, though, since it keeps existing >> USF intact and adds yet another fund to allow one provider per place >> to provide subsidized Internet access. I expect that it will usually >> be the ILEC, getting more money to compete with WISPs. >> >> -- >> Fred Goldstein k1io fgoldstein "at" ionary.com >> ionary Consulting http://www.ionary.com/ >> +1 617 795 2701 >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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/
