Josh, I'll call you and ensure that you receive immediate attention. Thanks for your participation.
Regards, Charles "Chip" Spann Director - Engineering & Technical Services Connected Nation, Inc. [email protected] Mobile: (270) 799-0448 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Josh Luthman Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 5:20 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] What you can do! Here is my issue: I am trying to add towers and I can't reach my contact. Is there an alternative person to reach? Maybe I'm using the wrong email address and called the wrong number? Josh Luthman Office: 937-552-2340 Direct: 937-552-2343 1100 Wayne St Suite 1337 Troy, OH 45373 On Thu, May 24, 2012 at 5:15 PM, Spann, Chip <[email protected]> wrote: > Having operated numerous wireless ISPs myself over the years, and as an > active member of the WISPA Emergency Communications Action Team I'd like > nothing more than to get these comments on the record and tackle responses > "head-on" once and for all. > > Under the NTIA guidelines, data is collected and submitted semi-annually. > Data submitted to NTIA on April 1 of each year consists of your > infrastructure and speed tier data that was current on December 31 of the > previous year. Data submitted to NTIA on October 1 of each year consists of > your infrastructure and speed tier data that was current on June 30 of the > then current year. > > Accordingly, providers that have had no change in coverage area or speeds can > contact their mapping agents now and report "no change". Providers that have > or are expanding coverage areas (and will likely be doing so through June 30) > should wait to submit their data sometime after the 1st week of July. > > CN hasn't changed its core methodologies as long as I've been here (7 years) > but has always followed the changes as dictated by NTIA and the FCC. For > example, prior to the development of the NTIA National Broadband Map, several > states engaged CN to conduct broadband mapping (e.g. West Virginia, North > Carolina, Illinois, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Carolina, Ohio and > Tennessee). During the early stages of developing these maps, the definition > of broadband was "greater than 200 kbps" in one direction. Thus, when the > definition changed, our data collection spreadsheets were updated to reflect > the change. Back then, states were happy if we submitted concentric circles > illustrating our coverage area (and using disclaimers for actual coverage). > Today, NTIA prefers actual propagation studies. As such, our data collection > spreadsheets were updated to reflect the change. These changes were not by > choice but by requirement. > > So to answer the question, we just follow to guidelines of NTIA (or the state > client for those early maps). We follow the same guidelines as all other > mapping agents in the US and are held to the same standards as all other > mapping agents. This is a great segue to the next comment regarding > "apparent ties to large carriers". I begin by stating that we've worked > diligently to assist dozens of WISPs across the US by providing free > engineering designs, free community and demographic assessments, tower site > assistance, lease negotiation assistance and have written numerous RUS > Community Connect grants. In other words, "we like the small operators". > You are the guys that actually bridge the gaps in the digital divide and we > appreciate what you do. > > Our funding source for developing these maps is the State Broadband > Initiative grants (ARRA funded with NTIA oversight) just like every other > mapping agent in the US. In the 7 years I've been with CN I can recall > working in 2 states where the maps were partially funded by provider > contributions (West Virginia and North Carolina). Perhaps this is what you > are referring to when you mention ties to large carriers. If so, I can > assure you that without those contributions and provider support, those > states would have been hard pressed to develop a map that met the current > standards. > > Others might claim that our "apparent ties" were due to members of our > board of directors. In the past, board members have included > representatives from AT&T and/or other large companies. If you want > to view our current board members, please visit the link at > http://www.connectednation.org/board-of-directors > > Finally, I close with these comments. The entire mapping process is strictly > voluntary. No one forces providers to participate. It's based on developing > a relationship and if, for some reason, you have problems with one of my > staff members in a CN mapping state - call me and we'll work on making things > right. > > In the 10 states where we are currently the mapping agent, I believe our > provider participation (which is voluntary) speaks for itself: > > Alaska: 21 of 23 91.30% Iowa 198 of > 203 97.54% Michigan 123 of 141 87.23% > Minnesota 116 of 119 97.48% Nevada 52 of > 53 98.11% Ohio 117of 129 90.70% Puerto > Rico 16 of 20 80.00% South Carolina 44 of 47 > 93.62% Tennessee 82 of 86 95.35% Texas > 158 of 201 78.61% > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Jeff Broadwick - Lists > Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 4:25 PM > To: 'WISPA General List' > Subject: Re: [WISPA] What you can do! > > Hi Chip, > > I've heard a lot of concern and frustration about working with CN in some > areas. The concern was primarily because of CN's apparent ties to the large > carriers. The frustration was about changing methodologies and having to > submit multiple times. > > Can you address these? > > Regards, > > Jeff > Sales Manager, Blue Technology > 574-935-8484 x106 (US/Can) > 574-220-7826 (Cell) > +1 574-935-8484 (Int'l) > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Spann, Chip > Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:51 AM > To: WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] What you can do! > > Jeff's #1 point is spot on! If you are not already participating in your > state's broadband map, I encourage you to do so. Recently, we've even > created propagation studies for WISPs outside of our states so that they can > simply give an electronic file to their state mapping agent. > > If you haven't participated yet and operate a system that covers any part of > AK, IA, MI, MN, NV, OH, PR, SC, TN or TX - I'd like to hear from you. > > Regards, > > Charles "Chip" Spann > Director - Engineering & Technical Services Connected Nation, Inc. > [email protected] > Mobile: (270) 799-0448 > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Jeff Broadwick - Lists > Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:43 AM > To: 'WISPA General List' > Subject: [WISPA] What you can do! > > Someone asked on the Members List what they could do to help the overall > cause of trying to get/protect spectrum and to avoid CAF/USF pitfalls. > Thought it would be appropriate here as well: > > #1 is working to ensure that you and every WISP you know is working with the > mapping efforts and filing their 477 form. The maps were GOLD when talking > to the folks in DC. Most don't really understand spectrum...but they can > read a map...and they know how it overlays their district! > > #2 would be to attend, or help fund, WISPA's new Advocacy Day program. We > had a great response to the first one, and will be doing one annually, and > others as needed. > > #3 PLEASE get to know your Congressman/Senators and their key staffers! You > don't have to go to DC to do that (unless of course you are trying to see > Senator Lugar...), you can go visit them in their local offices. > > #4 spread the word about WISPA. If we don't hang together, we'll hang > separately! No one will agree with every single position a trade group > takes, but WISPA labors to ensure that we are representing the views of the > majority of our membership...and WE ARE making a difference! > > > Regards, > > Jeff > > > Jeff Broadwick > Sales Manager, Blue Technology > 574-935-8484 x106 (US/Can) > 574-220-7826 (Cell) > +1 574-935-8484 (Int'l) > > > _______________________________________________ > Wireless mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > _______________________________________________ > Wireless mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > _______________________________________________ > Wireless mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > _______________________________________________ > Wireless mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless _______________________________________________ Wireless mailing list [email protected] http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless _______________________________________________ Wireless mailing list [email protected] http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
