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This
full-day event was held November 4, 2003
at the FCC in Washington, D.C.
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It was designed to facilitate information dissemination
about Rural WISPs as a compelling solution for rural broadband service.
It also provided an opportunity for the Commission to learn what,
if any, regulatory barriers stand in the way of rural WISP deployment.
The information below was made publicly available prior to this
event.
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9:30 |
Welcome
and Introduction |
9:40 |
Welcoming
Remarks
Chairman Michael K. Powell
Word
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Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy |
10:00
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Technologies
and Architectures: WISP Nuts & Bolts
WISP operators will describe their operations in rural
America. These practical descriptions of technologies and system
configurations will illustrate the wide variety of technologies
and lessons learned, including: arranging backbone connections;
exploiting technological advantages; and antenna sites necessary
to bring high-speed wireless to diverse geographic environments.
Presenters: Marlon
Schafer
Odessa Office
(Washington)
presentation
Douglas Campbell
AMATechTel (Texas)
presentation
Shane Hampton
Monet Mobile Networks
(South Dakota)
presentation
Jim Pace
Strategic Information
Services, LLC (Idaho)
presentation
Roxanne White
Evertek Enterprises
(Iowa)
presentation
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11:15
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WISP Implementation:
Lesson Learned
Rural WISPs will describe what it takes to start their operations
and lessons they have learned. Subjects covered will include:
network and operating costs; customer acquisition and care;
the value of partnerships; raising capital; and working with
local officials. Remarks: Commissioner
Michael J. Copps Presenters:
Michael Butler
Ice Communications
(Alaska)
presentation
a | presentation
b
Neil J. Mulholland
Prairie iNet
(Iowa)
presentation
Joel Brick
Sioux Valley Wireless
(South Dakota)
presentation
Jay Maxwell
Pixius (Kansas)
Jim Selby & Scott
Stevens
The Aspen Wireless
Network (Colorado)
Larry Roadman
Margaretville
Telephone Co. (New York)
presentation
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12:30
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Lunch
Break |
1:30
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Workshop
Panels:
(1) Government Funding
How can a rural WISP obtain loans, grants, guarantees, and
start-up assistance from such agencies as the Rural Utilities
Service of the Department of Agriculture and the Department
of Commerce?
Roberta Purcell,
Assistant Administrator, USDA RUS
presentation
David Witschi,
Economic Development Administration
presentation
(2) Applications and Community Building
A focus on how WISPs are providing services and applications
that help build and enhance rural communities. Examples will
include how WISPs are providing telemedicine, education, and
other services in rural and remote communities.
Mike Peralta, Tribal
Digital Village (California), presentation
Craig Mollerstuen,
GCI Broadband Services
(Alaska), presentation
(3) Technical and Interference Issues
What are the FCC's rules, procedures and enforcement mechanisms
applicable to WISPs? What are the alternatives available,
i.e., licensed versus unlicensed spectrum? How can one solve
interference issues?
Julius Knapp, FCC OET, presentation
Joe Casey, FCC EB
Michael Anderson,
PDQLink (Illinois),
presentation
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2:15
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Break |
2:25
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FCC Town
Meeting
An open forum opportunity for the FCC to hear how it can help
facilitate rural WISP broadband deployment and services. The
format is Q&A.
Remarks: Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein
Word
| Acrobat Panelists: Robert Pepper,
Chief, Policy Development Ed Thomas,
Chief, Office of Engineering & Technology John
Muleta, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Julius Knapp, Deputy Chief, Office of Engineering
& Technology
Joe Casey, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division,
Enforcement Bureau |
3:20
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Closing
Remarks |
3:30
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Adjourn |
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The Rural Wireless ISP Showcase and Workshop is open to the
public and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at the Federal
Communications Commission in Washington, DC. There is no registration
fee and seating is made available on a first come, first serve basis.
Since a large attendance is expected, attendees are invited to RSVP
to WISPShowcase@fcc.gov
to help us ensure that we have sufficient facilities. Please indicate
your name, who you represent, your email address, and which afternoon
Workshop Panel you intend on attending.
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The FCC is located at 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Directions and a map of the streets near the FCC is available at http://www.fcc.gov/portalsmap.html.
The Commission Meeting Room is equipped with a Wi-Fi Internet network.
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Please note that the FCC is a federal building with security. All
attendees will be required to pass through security. Please allocate
additional time to enter the building.
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The Rural Wireless ISP Showcase will be webcast live and archived
for later viewing. During the afternoon Workshop Panels, only one
panel will be webcast live. The other sessions will be recorded and
made available for later viewing. Access to and additional information
concerning the webcast is available at http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/workshops.html.
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Reasonable
Accommodations
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Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable
accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.
Include a description of the accommodation you will need including
as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if
we need more information. Make your request as early as possible;
please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last minute requests
will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer
& Governmental Affairs Bureau: For sign language interpreters, CART,
and other reasonable accommodations: 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432
(tty). For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic
files, and audio format): 202-418-0531 (voice), 202-418-7365 (tty).
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