Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Over the past year, the issue of the FCC's broadband plan has come up over and over on this blog. One of the most important topics, of course, is the charge to tell the FCC your thoughts on Fixed Wireless Broadband. Well, guess what! They listened.

Tony Bradley of PC World reported just a few weeks ago: FCC Urged to Expand Wireless Broadband Access. Urged how? Via the very request for your input that we shared months back. The FCC has sought input via formal submission, as well as via social media, blogs, etc. The Government, it would appear, is listening to the people.

As Bradley's article notes, however, one of the overwhelming proposals on the table has to do with the availability of spectrum. In April of last year, we reported on Verizon's buy-up of a huge chunk of the 700mz spectrum. But that brings up two dilemmas: do we want only one company dominating the FCC licenses, and even so, is this spectrum enough?

If fixed wireless broadband is indeed the technology that can make broadband ubiquity a reality in the U.S., then shouldn't we have more spectrum devoted to it? That's what some critics are suggesting. However, the Department of Justice is not so quick to meddle where existing media markets are already succeeding. The switch to digital television, after all, went SOOO smoothly, we certainly don't want to endure such a switch-a-roo again.

The lines haven't closed. Your voice can still be heard. Let the FCC know your thoughts on Fixed Wireless Broadband.

Labels: Broadband Plan, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Stimulus, Verizon

posted by Nick Carter at 7:11 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
First and foremost: bravo! Twice in one year we've reported on the federal government soliciting feedback from the business community on its plans for the future (the last time being when the NTIA requested feedback on rural broadband). There's something heart-warming to see government working in such a way.

Yes, indeed, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking for comments from for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, and economic development programs around the nation. As congress prepares to hear a bill next February on the FCC's famed Broadband Plan, the commission is going to dig deep for some hard numbers to back up their proposed needs for the nation.

Specifically, the FCC is asking about what does exist and what would be required. Can people access broadband at libraries and community colleges? If so, are they. And if not, what level of broadband is needed in a rural community in order to actually attract new business--and thereby jobs--to that community? What bitrates are required? Redundancy? And, on the docket we also find the question: is wireless broadband a viable solution?

As we consider how to get broadband access to the rural areas of the United States, there's an obvious economic incentive to go wireless--no, not just the stimulus money. It's less expensive to implement, faster to get live, and easier to build redundancy. But, I dare say that the FCC already knows all of that. What they want to know is, after it's implemented, live, and redundant--will it meet the demand? With ever-increasing speeds, network coverage, and security, it's safe to say "yes." What many fail to realize is that this is not your average air card anymore.

To let your voice be heard, download the FCC's public notice and follow the instructions found there.

Labels: Economy, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 6:55 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
There's been plenty of talk on Capital Hill and all throughout the blogosphere about the economy, the stimulus, and broadband. But a recent survey coming from the UK revealed a totally different side to this debate than I had ever seen before. Could you imagine real estate sales being affected by broadband infrastructure? I can.

According to a survey from ISPreview.co.uk, broadband speeds could help or hinder home sales. According to the article, "from 721 respondents to our latest monthly survey reveal that 75% of readers would not buy a house, even a lovely one, if the best broadband ISP speed it could achieve was just 1Mbps." This presents a not-so-obvious connection among seemingly unrelated economic trends.

Now, although these are largely UK respondents, a sampling of US buyers would likely show similar trends. Working from that assumption, there are a few alarming insights to be gained. First, the simple fact that this trait of a home is not something the seller can fix. Thanks to HGTV and the like, we're all becoming familiar with concepts like home-staging, flipping, fix-ups, etc. But if you're in a rural area with no broadband access, or even an urban area with poor access, your options for making your house more marketable are slim in this area.

Second, and perhaps more alarming, is the standards which we in the U.S. hold. Note that 75% of readers in the UK would NOT buy the house with 1 Mbps. That's nearly 250 Kbps faster than our current "standard" for broadband in the U.S. But, to the UK consumer, that is an unacceptable downstream speed. Now, there are a lot of factors to consider in setting the bar for what constitutes broadband speed, but the fact remains, other nations have set the bar considerably higher than the U.S. How far away are we from catching up?

As we consider the future of broadband infrastructure in the U.S., we have to think of the ripple effects that a lack of broadband can have on a community. Businesses cannot compete. Education is hindered. And, homes can't sell. And, without question the technology that can most quickly deliver broadband to rural communities is fixed wireless.

Labels: "Internet infrastructure", Broadband Speed, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 7:27 AM Link to this Article  1 Comments

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
It would seem that the social-media savvy of our commander and chief is beginning to trickle down the government bureaucracies. Last week, the FCC jumped into social media with both feet as they seek to engage the public on issues regarding the nation's broadband coverage. And, this is no sterile so-called blog hosted on a government server. I half expected to see nothing more than a news feed with comments disabled, but instead found a web 2.0 blog design with comments enabled.

It gets even better. Broadband.Gov is turning, just as web 2.0 demands, to 3rd party social media venues as well. Their public feedback mechanism is powered by IdeaScale and allows the populus to vote and comment on what we feel should be the top priorities of any federal broadband plan. Go ahead, weigh in on the FCC's broadband plan... you can even add your own topics ad-hoc!

And, of course, no social media reach would be complete without a presence on Twitter and Facebook. The FCC has managed to secure a 3-character twitter user name "FCC"--which certainly required some cooperation from Biz Stone and the crew. Likewise, the FCC's Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/FCC.

So, what is all this buzz about. Well, to learn more about the Broadband Plan, I would direct you to (where else) the social-media video site, YouTube, where the FCC's own YouTube channel has been created.

In all seriousness, however, I want to first of all applaud the FCC for such a monumental step. To see a bureau of the Federal Government moving so enthusiastically into the realm of social media is a much greater advancement than many might realize. Second, I want to encourage readers to take this opportunity. Our leaders are reaching out. They're listening. So, be heard.

Labels: Broadband Plan, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Social Media, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 5:12 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, July 17, 2009
With less than 4 weeks remaining to take action on available grants and loans--all part of a federal stimulus package aimed at beefing up the nation's wired and wireless networks--many providers have yet to take action. Why? Well, these aren't exactly "no strings attached" deals.

Vice President Biden recently announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants, which are specifically aimed at bringing rural broadband access to un-served and underserved communities. Nonetheless, providers like CenturyTel, Inc. haven't lifted a finger to tough the funds, which could go a long way in funding their LTE network plans for the coming years. "We just don't know yet," a company spokesman told Unstrung Wednesday. "We're still evaluating the notice that came out at the end of June."

Yet another company, Open Range Communications, is balking at the latest offer after having received a reported $267 Million from the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Program (RDUP) in March (a previous edition of a stimulus package aimed at rural broadband access).

With this latest stimulus offer announced by Biden, the deadline for applying for the funds is notably tighter. Companies are faced with deciding whether they can/will accept the terms of the funding while they only learned of said terms as late as July 1st. And, it seems, many may decide the easy money may not be worth the strings it has attached.

Labels: Broadband, Network Providers, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 8:21 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
As Britain unveiled its plans this week to stay competitive with the rest of the world in regards to broadband speed and availability across the islands (sorry, Ireland, it is plural), Gordon Brown reported that "The internet is as vital as water and gas." Brown compares the infrastructure of roads and bridges built in the 19th century Industrial Revolution with the infrastructure of cable and towers being built today.

I'm not sure how the leap is made from bridges and roads to water and gas, but I do agree with Brown's assessment of broadband's importance to growth in the 21st century. Here on our side of the pond, we're realizing the same about our own future. Much attention has been given to the role of Fixed Wireless Broadband infrastructuree for rural internet access, both on this blog and elsewhere.

So how do we compare with Britain's stance in the broadband race? Well, first, I'd like to point out one interesting observation made by Brown: "The private sector is rightly leading the way and investing significant sums." Not to engage in political debate, but I would hardly say that the stimulus funds channeled from the government through our private companies qualifies as private investment.

However, Brown goes on to cite several needed advancements in Britain that the U.S. has already stepped out on. First, the FCC's release of a large spectrum for wireless use. Brown also emphasizes copper and fiber optic networks over fixed wireless broadband. I believe that the U.S. will be far better suited competitively as we invest in untethered networks with more scalability.

Whoever is in the lead, one thing is clear, it is a race. The nation that emerges in the 21st century as having the best and most reliable broadband access will--just as with railways at the turn of the last century--gain a distinct advantage in the world economy.

Labels: Economy, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 7:12 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, June 9, 2009
We reported several months ago on this Broadband Stimulus Package, all the promise of growth and a new era of broadband leadership in America, and of course, the opportunity to chime in about wireless broadband. Well, several readers on Wired.com have chimed in, but unfortunately not through the proper channels.

It seems that most of the formal feedback requests have been completed by the telecom providers that can afford to pay someone to chase the paper trail required for submission. The more casual readers, however, have resorted to the more casual feedback system: comments.

And yet, though there may seem to be no bridge between the formalities of Capital Hill and the "new-fangled blog thingies" on the Internet, Wired.com has spanned the gap. In a formal submission to the FCC, Wired sifted through the chaff and assembled the top comments from their blog(s) into one coherent document for the FCC to review. You can read the FCC submission here.

The problem, of course, is that the comments don't amount to a cohesive message. There's conflicting ideas, not the least of which is the devotion to terrestrial networks (fiber optics and copper cables) and of course, Fixed Wireless Broadband like wimax, 3G, and 4G. So, whose voice will be louder? Have you weighed in yet? Download the form.

Labels: Broadband, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 8:27 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Several weeks ago, we reported through various posts about the scuttle over Obama's multi-billion dollar stimulus plan to increase broadband availability across the nation. Not surprisingly, Accel's position: go wireless! You can read about this in our previous post Internet for Everyone: The Technology That Can Make It Happen.

When I opened my news today, I was pleased to read a headline very familiar to me: Opinion: Mobile technology, not broadband, is the way to connect America. Now, it didn't take long to realize we use slightly different nomenclature. You see, I would consider a fixed wireless broadband solution as indeed a broadband solution. Of course, what this author meant by the term was what we might distinguish as "terrestrial networks." Nonetheless, the article went on to comment:

"When it comes to deciding where to put our money, we should actually be following in the footsteps of the developing world. Countries like India and China are using mobile technologies to leapfrog much more expensive wired and wireless infrastructure investments. Over 60 percent of all people on the planet have access to cell phones, while only 20 percent have computers or are connected to the Internet."

This couldn't be more accurate. Last year, I visited Indonesia. As I sat on a remote island in a village barely equipped with electricity, I checked my email on a GSM fixed wireless broadband connection. Why? Just as columnist Paul Lamb pointed out above, it's incomparably cheaper to build cell towers than lay cable.

The only question, then, is whether the goal of the broadband stimulus plan here in the U.S. is to save money... or to spend money [grin].

Labels: Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus, WCAI

posted by Nick Carter at 5:23 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
We've heard about it. We know it's coming. We've even been invited to interact with the NTIA and FCC. So, how are providers of fixed wireless broadband solutions responding? We heard one report that made me jump for joy (and start pricing airfare).

Andy Vamvakias of Premium Choice Broadband in Maine took it upon himself to advocate for the entire state of Main with regard to the broadband stimulus funds that are being made available. Under his won volition, Andy flew to DC to lobby not only for his small broadband provider but for his great state to get a piece of the pie. "There is no guarantee that stimulus money of any significant amount will come to Maine," he said. "If we don't move quickly and convincingly, we stand to lose it."

Andy's position is that the funds should be made available directly to businesses who can put it to use quickest, as opposed to trickling down through the usual bureaucratic channels of government grants and the like. In Andy's case, he believes he could spend 10 million in a matter of weeks, creating work for 10-20 people and providing broadband network access to currently unserved or underserved areas.

I'd like to go on record with a hearty "here-here" for Andy. What are your thoughts on how the funds could be used in your area for the best economic gain? And, what are you doing about it?

Labels: Broadband, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 7:07 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yesterday, as the Obama Administration's economic stimulus plans were unveiled in Washington, the Dow got a boost on Wall Street. Among the most successful jumps on the markets were Telecom leaders AT&T, Verizon, and Motorola. Investors and Analysts appear to be optimistic about the effect that the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus will bring on the telecom giants.

As we've come to know well, spending is the key to our U.S. economy. Earlier we reported on AT&T's plans to devote $11 billion to wireless broadband. We've also learned that Verizon will have to decide what to do with it's $1.6 billion from the senate stimulus plan. Countless other funds of untold billions are no doubt becoming available to smaller telecom and broadband providers, all of which seem to carry a common theme: bring fast Internet connections to rural and low-income areas.

So, how does all this affect you? Well, first of all, leading the world in fixed wireless broadband technology will certainly be beneficial for keeping the U.S. on the leading edge of global markets. But, more immediate effects will be felt by the businesses in and around rural areas. Businesses serving rural areas will see increased e-commerce opportunity. Businesses in rural areas will see lower costs and higher availability for broadband access via wireless GSM infrastructure. The bottom line: it's encouraging to know that the telecom industry leaders are planning and positioning for growth.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 6:26 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Monday, March 16, 2009
The $7.2 Billion that the NTIA and FCC now have on their hands created a flood of over 2000 individual requests for meetings and follow-ups from advocacy groups, local and state government agencies, and private companies all across the U.S. Following the first of several public meetings on the topic, we now have a systematic means for follow-up. The agencies have released an RFI form requesting information relevant to the proper handling of these funds.

You can download the form at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/frnotices/2009/FR_BTOP_RFI_090312.pdf. Don't be shocked to find a lengthy form. No doubt, in part, to weed out those deeply interested in the process from the casual squalkers. But, if you (like us) desire to see the funds used appropriately in the rollout of broadband access for the U.S., we encourage you to take the time.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, FCC, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 11:06 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, March 13, 2009
We have talked a lot recently about the recent stimulus package and it's impact on wireless broadband investments in the U.S. There's no word on whether AT&T's recently announced plans were motivated (or even funded) by the stimulus, but whatever the source, the results are obvious: 3,000 jobs alone will be created in AT&T's next initiative to ramp-up 3G networks across America.

According to Network World, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson says that despite the current recession, AT&T needs to invest heavily in wireless capacity to keep up with consumer demand for bandwidth. Their plans include nearly doubling their 3G presence in the U.S., which entails nearly 2100 new GSM-based cell sites.

So, with AT&T upping the ante, what will the other major providers do with their broadband stimulus funds? What we expect (and hope) to see is the race begin to lead the U.S. in wireless broadband connectivity among Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. It appears AT&T has jumped out to a lead, at least in what they've promised. But if there is one thing Capitalism assures, it's that where one company ventures, more will follow. Competition drove us to where we are in technology today, and it is driving us to the future as we speak.

See the full article in Yahoo Finance: AT&T to Add 3000 Jobs...

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 6:16 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, March 5, 2009
With over $7.2 billion at stake, there has been no shortage of banter over where the money should be spent. A simple google search for "broadband stimulus" yields hundreds of thousands of recent news entries and blogger buzz about the topic. So, what do we know as of now?

First, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will handle a portion of the funds. I originally was led to believe (probably through one of the numerous sources chattering about the topic on the internet these days) that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) would be the exclusive administrator of Obama's stimulus, but it appears I was incorrect.

However, I'm glad to have been found mistaken. Ron Schott, an Arizona news man, points out in his recent article on the broadband stimulus package, that with the RUS in charge, it could mean 80-95% of the largely rural state of Arizona receives coverage. Some people expressed disappointment over the historic allocation of funds that the RUS approved, stating that the money doesn't always end up at the most rural of areas. In either regard, I say that I'm pleased t see this development because I believe it will mean more money invested in rural infrastructure rather than floating the major carriers with loans and grants to "improve" existing networks.

As per my previous article over the allocation of these funds to wireless broadband technology, no definitive answer has been given. But, rest assured the industry is lobbying hard to make sure we get our cut. Fred Campbell, president of The Wireless Communication Association International (WCAI) stated, “WCAI applauds the inclusion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of funding for the delivery of wireless broadband to underserved areas.” He also commented, "As the only broadband platform that is capable of providing access everywhere, all the time, wireless broadband is essential to achieving universal broadband connectivity."

Where will the dollars fall, we aren't certain yet. I will be keeping my ear to the rail, hopefully the train's-a-comin'.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus, WCAI

posted by Nick Carter at 3:49 PM Link to this Article  0 Comments