Aspen Wireless News & Updates

From a letter released by the White House this morning:

Project Spotlight: The Administration will award a last-mile grant to Rivada Sea Lion, an Alaska Native Corporation, to provide 4G wireless high-speed broadband Internet service to approximately 30,000 residents in 53 unserved, subsistence level communities in 13southwestern Native Alaska. Rivada will design, engineer, and construct a multi-mode 4G last-mile remote network that spans 90,000 square miles and connects homes and businesses as well as anchor institutions such as health clinics, schools, and tribal government facilities. By using wireless and satellite technology rather than copper or fiber, the project will provide the first broadband services to these Native Alaskan communities at relatively low cost.

Along with 17 other projects:

http://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/NEC-Broadband-Report.pdf

Aspen Wireless is excited to announce another one of our client’s applications has been escalated to Step Two of the approvals phase for the Broadband Stimulus.  this comes as another early select of a handful of project selections.

North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA) Memorandum to Board

For Aspen Wireless this is one Last Mile and one Middle Mile escalation; one USDA BIP and one NTIA BTOP, one in snowy Alaska and one in tropical Florida.

We strongly encourage folks who are looking to apply in Round Two, or sadly miss Round One to look at our professional services to help their success potential.  Give us a call or email for a free initial consultation.

Four State Broadband Co-Op Engages Aspen Wireless Networks for Grant Preparation, Broadband Mapping and Consulting Services for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Western Montana.

Pacific Northwest Internet Service Everywhere broadband cooperative PNWISE.org to leverage Aspen Wireless’ services portfolio and experience to provide affordable and speedy broadband to all rural areas and anchor community institutions by 2012.

Hood River, Oregon. (PRWEB) July 15, 2009—Aspen Wireless Networks, Inc., who is celebrating their 10th year as renowned broadband consultants and entrepreneurs announced today it was selected by a broadband cooperative in the Pacific Northwest known as PNWISE, who is actively working to create ubiquitous rural broadband service in four states; Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Western Montana. PNWISE is bringing together leadership in small communities, local service providers and state-level government to create the vital partnerships required to achieve rural broadband service.

Aspen Wireless Networks will be providing services to PNWISE from its extensive portfolio including broadband mapping (to the census block), financial modeling, public-private partnerships, business planning, technology engineering and systems integration to ensure PNWISE will meet its goal. Aspen Wireless will also engage in collaborative grant preparation with PNWISE for a grant submission to the NTIA and RUS under the recently announced $4 Billion first round of the total $7.2 Billion allocated for broadband under the ARRA stimulus act.

“We have been stirring this pot for years now, but Aspen Wireless is the key component to turning this dream in to a reality,” said Link Shadley, Managing Member of PNWISE. “Cooperatives brought electricity, telephone and other vital utilities to rural areas and we are committed to delivering affordable broadband as the next utility to our part of rural America.”

“We love rural broadband and always have – it was the founding reason for our company a decade ago and remains the highest priority to us today,” stated Scott Stevens, Co-Founder of Aspen Wireless. “PNWISE embodies rural broadband and has done an amazing job of fostering support and creating a real plan for delivering advanced broadband services to rural America. These guys have it nailed.”

This is not the first large-scale project Aspen Wireless has worked on. In 2002 Aspen Wireless worked on National Broadband, which leveraged relationships with WilTel, Intel and Wal-Mart to deliver middle-mile and last-mile connectivity at 422 points across 38 states. Aspen Wireless has also provided the same rural broadband solutions to companies like CenturyTel. Last year, Aspen’s principal consultant and co-founder Scott Stevens was a member of The Obama Campaign’s Technology/Media/Telecom Policy Committee.

“Although we have grown substantially, we continue to work with small providers to bring them the same success potential all our clients enjoy. PNWISE realizes the importance of these small providers through their innovative ISPartner programs,” stated Mr. Stevens. “We were inspired to take PNWISE on as a client.”

Pacific Northwest Internet Service Everywhere broadband cooperative will be leveraging wireless technology as the most cost effective and advantageous way to deliver multi-megabit service to rural America. Wireless technology allows PNWISE infrastructure to be leveraged for public safety mobility for first responders and emergency personnel as well as provide backhaul for SmartGrid, which is particularly important to utility leaders in the Northwest region. Additional infrastructure will be deployed specifically to provide hundreds of megabits and even gigabits to key community institutions in rural communities such as education, healthcare and municipal government and will feature grid independence and network redundancy.

“Wireless easily meets the current and future demand of rural America. We intend to exceed the 20Mbps service preferred by the NTIA and USDA RUS for a fraction of the cost of fiber, putting Northwest rural America ahead of general metropolitan populations,” stated Mr. Shadley. “Best of all, it will be affordable.”

About Pacific Northwest Internet Service Everywhere
PNWISE is a broadband cooperative focused on providing ‘’affordable broadband for everyone’’ without prejudice to all rural areas across the Pacific Northwest including Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Western Montana. PNWISE is continuing to seek partners in communities across the region to join and become involved in delivering the broadband utility. As a middle-mile backhaul provider, PNWISE will connect local government, economic development districts, educational school districts, higher education, healthcare and public safety facilities. PNWISE will also discuss additional needs of public safety for multi-megabit mobility and inter-agency interoperability.

For partnership or information inquiries for PNWISE please email info(at)pnwise(dot)org. For press inquiries please contact press(at)pnwise(dot)org.

About Aspen Wireless Networks
Aspen Wireless Networks is celebrating a decade of broadband consulting and market leadership. Aspen Wireless provides consulting services that leverage years of applied knowledge and leadership insight to create well-refined and realistic broadband businesses and successful deployments. The company specializes in all broadband technologies including fiber, wireless, cable and copper including hybrid networks. Aspen Wireless has served hundred of clients and worked on significant projects, providing services including; business planning, financial modeling, partnerships, network engineering, application engineering and network deployment.

For sales inquiries or for general information please visit Aspen Wireless Networks website at http://aspenwireless.net/.

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REGISTER FOR A SESSION:

Wed Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Thu Jul 9, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM PDT








After a decade of broadband consulting we guessed 95% right, but did the NOFA surprise you?

- DEADLINE: August 14th

- MAPPING: Census Block Level

- DEFINITIONS: Rural, Remote, Underserved and Unserved

- ENGINEERING: Signoff over $1 Million

- E-FILING: Registration Req’s

We will show you how to successfully address these and other vital issues so you meet the deadline in an expediant and accurate way so as not to get thrown out. Discussion + Q&A!

ALL-IMPORTANT MAPPING

We’ve been doing demographic and broadband analysis at the block level for years and we will show you some of the mapping methodologies that will help ratify your business case, engineering and prepare your grant for success.

- Households, Population, Income, etc

- Define “Rural” and % of Rural

- Distance from Urban Markets

- Identify Existing Broadband: Cable, DSL, Wireless, Cellular

- Cross-referencing with existing databases

- Determine Unserved and Underserved

- Determine BTOP or BIP Eligibility

- Output in Map and Spreadsheet form

REAL STRATEGY

We possess the strategy and our record speaks for itself.  Every RFP response we’ve written has won and every grant/loan submitted has been awarded!  We can’t guarantee success; our expertise and breadth can make a positive contribution to your broadband plan.  Did you know that you can include grant preparation and planning as a reimbursable part of your application if awarded?

REAL HELP

Do you need more resources to hit the deadline?  Can we help fill in the gaps?  Provide a sanity check?

- Business Planning

- Financial Modeling

- System Engineering: Wireless, Cable, Fiber; Middle and Last Mile

- Mapping Census + Broadband (Cable, DSL, Wireless, Cellular)

- Grant/Loan Strategy + Narratives, Preparation and Assembly

- Project Management RFP Management / Proposal Vetting

REAL LEADERS

Fmr Obama Campaign Tech Policy Committee w/ Larry Strickling.

Highly successful on RFP and USDA RUS loan & grant applications.

We get Senators, Congress, Governors and Counties to back our clients.

Created “National Broadband” in 2002 for broadband to 38 rural states.

The first Wall Street Journal (cover-page) article on rural Wi-Fi in 2001.

We provide comprehensive services ranging from business to technology.

We engineer financials and technology, integrating experience for results.

Customers range from CenturyTel to Walmart to hundreds of WISPs.


REGISTER FOR A SESSION NOW:

Wed Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Thu Jul 9, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Aspen Wireless Networks has a long list of satisfied and successful customers. Born from rural broadband, we have now had an opportunity to provide services to several hundred rural wireless broadband providers (WISP) as well as large businesses and institutions across the United States and world. Some examples of other satisfied customers and projects include:

Rural Broadband

– Alamogordo, NM (+40 communities) – Brenham, TX (10,000+ sqmi area) – Jefferson County, CO – British Virgin Islands – Dothan, AL – Ronan, MT – Kalispell, MT – Ripon, WI – Galesburg, IL – Empire, MI – Gig Harbor, WA – Carbondale, CO – Durango, CO – Branson, MO – Wichita, KS – Broken Arrow, OK – Truckee, CA – Purgatory, CO – Newport, RI – Eagle, CO – Bend, OR
and hundreds more.

Municipal Wi-Fi

– Town of Vail, CO – Steilacoom, WA – San Marcos, TX – La Crosse, WI – Central Park, NY – Aspen, CO

Walmart

– Rural Broadband

Clearwire

– Backhaul (Middle Mile)

Homeland Security

– 2004 Presidential Inauguration Washington, DC – Metro Boston Homeland Security – Republican National Convention, NYC

Education/Healthcare/Utilities

– Steamboat Springs ESD – Eagle County ESD – Franciscan Skemp Medical – Eminence ESD – Colorado Mtn Medical – Stuttgart ESD – Show-me Power – Lake County ESD – San Bernard Electric Co-Op – Sisters of St Mary – Medical Bossier Parrish ESD

CenturyTel

For over 2.5 years we provided services to CenturyTel beginning with having authored and engineered the RFP response that won the Town of Vail Muni Wi-Fi project over Google, Earthlink and AT&T. Project managed (city relations, capex, opex, etc), selected vendors, engineered (RF and IP) and deployed of 350+ devices over 9 miles with backend portal/billing/advertisement in under 4 months to meet contractual deadline.

Contributed to C-Level executives as members of the strategic “Raptor Team” under direction of President COO Karen Puckett; contributing ideas, relationships and both business and technical expertise that enabled additional efforts by CenturyTel deploying; rural broadband, fixed wireless, high-capacity wireless backhaul, municipal WI-Fi, a national hotspot deployment (w/ advertising) and a successful $150M bid on 700MHz nationwide spectrum. Tasks included; authoring RFP/RFIQ documents, bringing relationships (vendor, customer), budgeting capital and operational project expenses, RF and IP engineering (vision, architecture, config, reliability, methodology), configuration/troubleshooting, deployment/implementation, sales/engineer training, sales support/customer relations, site surveys, lab testing, presentations.

Broadband USA site now has active link to NOFA:

Link to NOFA (pdf download)

HIGHLIGHTS of the NOTICE OF FUNDS AVAILABILITY

Related downloads:

A summary by Knight Foundation, Knight Center for Digital Excellence on the NOFA.

A summary, strategy and recommendations for changes by New America Foundation on the NOFA.

KEY POINTS

USDA and NTIA have developed a two-step application process:

- In step one, the goal is to create a pool of viable and potentially fundable applications.

- Step two is to fully validate the submissions in step one and identify the most highly qualified applications for funding.

BTOP funds are available through 3 categories:

- Broadband Infrastructure

- Public Computer Centers

- Sustainable Broadband Adoption.

Broadband Infrastructure category consists of Last Mile and Middle Mile in unserved and underserved areas.

Broadband definition: two-way data transmission with advertised speeds of at least 768 kbps downstream and at least 200 kbps upstream.

Public Computer Center will expand public access and capacity at entities that permit the public to use these computing centers.

The Sustainable Broadband Adoption category will fund innovative projects that promote broadband demand.

- $1.2billion for Last Mile Projects.

- $400M for grants Remote Area projects.*

- $800M for loans or loan/grant combos for Non-Remote projects.*

- $800M for loans or loan/grant combos for Middle Mile projects.

* Remote area means an unserved, rural area 50 miles from the limits of a non-rural area.

All awards under NTIA BTOP and USDA BIP must be made no later than September 30, 2010

For-profit corps that are willing to promote the goals of the Recovery Act and comply with the statutory requirements are eligible.

Eligibility factors:

- 1) application;

- 2) completion w/2 yrs;

- 3) technical feasibility.

Nondiscrimination and Interconnection Obligations:

- i. adhere to the principles contained in the FCC’s Internet Policy Statement

- ii. not favor any lawful Internet applications and content over others

- iii. display any network management policies and provide notice to customers of changes to these policies

- iv. connect to the public Internet directly or indirectly, such that the project is not an entirely private closed network

- v. offer interconnection on reasonable rates and terms to be negotiated with requesting parties

Conditions will apply for the life of the awardee’s facilities used in the project.

The scoring criteria for BIP and BTOP:

- 1 Project Purpose;

- 2 Project Benefits;

- 3 Project Viability;

- 4 Project Budget and Sustainability.

As follows;

- Project Purpose 25 pts: Proportion of Rural Residents Served in Unserved Areas 5 pts Rural Area Targeting 5 pts Remote Area Targeting 5 pts.

- Title II Borrowers (5 points). Recovery Act and other governmental collaboration (5 points).

- Broadband speed: Last Mile Projects of 20+ megabit per second service will be favored; 100+ megabits per second service for Middle Mile.

- Pts for demonstrating affordability and providing choice of provider.

- Pts for 25% discounts to “all critical community facilities in the proposed funded service area”.

- Critical community facilities: public facilities that provide community services essential for supporting the safety, health, well-being.

* Critical community facilities: emergency response and other public safety activities, hospitals and clinics, libraries, schools and more.

- Project Viability (25 points).

- Applicant’s organizational capability (12 points); Community support (2 points); Ability to promptly start project (10 points).

- Disadvantaged small businesses (1 point).

- Project Budget and Sustainability (25 points).

USDA and NTIA intend to announce the awards starting on or about November 7, 2009.

Unserved area:

- census block where at least 90% of HHs lack access to facilities-based, terrestrial broadband service @ 768 kbps.

Underserved area:

- 1. no more than 50% of the HHs in the area have access to facilities-based, terrestrial broadband service @ 768 kbps.

- 2. no fixed or mobile broadband service provider advertises broadband transmission speeds of at least 3mbps.

Courtesy of Fierce Broadband Wireless
June 28, 2009 — 11:33pm ET | By Lynnette Luna

The federal government won’t require the “buy American” stipulations it had originally planned to require of companies obtaining stimulus money to build broadband networks.

In a notice published Friday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is distributing $5 billion of the $7.2 billion earmarked for broadband deployments in unserved and underserved areas, said the Secretary of Commerce granted a limited waiver of the buy American stipulation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to broadband equipment used in broadband networks deployed using stimulus money.

The waiver includes switching, access, transport, routing, customer premise and billing equipment as well as end user devices. The waiver doesn’t include optic cables, coaxial cables, cell towers and other facilities that are in abundance in the United States. For other equipment not on the list, companies can request waivers case by case.

Earlier this month, Cisco Systems and Alcatel-Lucent said they wanted the buy American provisions eliminated, arguing that the requirement for U.S.-made equipment would be “grossly inefficient” and a “radical departure” from normal practices. The two industry heavyweights also said such rules would slow down projects because telecom networks typically are made up of equipment from companies worldwide. Congress said funds provided under the law passed in February generally can’t be used for iron, steel and factory goods not produced in the U.S.

Ignorance is bliss!  Who says all ARRA stimulus has no rules and will not be funding until the end of this year?  Could you benefit from a grant for $50k?  $250k?  How about $1 million?

From the USDA website:

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS (RBEG) PROGRAM

The RBEG program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs. To assist with business development, RBEGs may fund a broad array of activities.

How much are the grants?
There is no maximum level of grant funding. However, smaller projects are given higher priority.

Who is eligible?
Rural public entities (towns, communities, State agencies, and authorities), Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations are eligible to apply for funding.

Define Rural
Rural is defined as any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town according to the latest decennial census. At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest in any project must have membership or be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

What types of projects are eligible?
The RBEG program is a broad based program that reaches to the core of rural development in a number of ways. Examples of eligible fund use include: Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation, of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning. Any project funded under the RBEG program should benefit small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Small and emerging private businesses are those that will employ 50 or fewer new employees and have less than $1 million in projected gross revenues.

How to Apply
To apply for funding for the RBEG program, please contact your Rural Development State Office. (or contact us or see our services).

Availability of Funds
Each year, Congress provides program funding as called for in the Federal Budget. Fiscal Year funding levels will be made available as soon as possible after the beginning of each Fiscal Year.

Our Thoughts :: The $100 Billion Issue: Cisco Lobbies to Clarify “Buy American” Clause
in Federal Stimulus Package

Courtesy of colleague Liz Zucco via stimulatingbroadband.com

04/16/09 As seen in a publicly disclosed e-mail message from Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the San Jose based networking equipment market leader is lobbying against a strict interpretation of the “Buy American” provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

We believe the Cisco statement to the federal agency is extremely significant. Far more than the $7.2 Billion in “broadband stimulus” funds in ARRA could be subject to the Buy American clause. We believe that upwards of $100 Billion in information technology (IT) appropriations are contained in all of the tech-related programs and funding lines in the Act. As outlined below, we believe that strict application of ARRA provisions meant to apply to roads, bridges, and public buildings can not reasonably be applied to the IT / telecom sector if appropriations from the Act are going to be spent on technology deployments, as intended.

Our analysis of IT funding portions of the Act agrees with that of several legal and market research analysts who have done detailed reviews of the legislation. We believe the approximate $100 Billion IT figure is reached when considering total appropriations, additional to the $7.2 Billion, for: healthcare record computerization, smart grid electric distribution control technology, federal computer system upgrades, public safety communications, intelligent transportation system (ITS) tech within the massive funding for road and bridge construction, computer learning and educational technology, and possible broadband rewiring of subsidized and public housing.

The e-mail message, reproduced on the NTIA’s public disclosure site reports that Cisco’s Jeffrey A. Campbell had an Ex Parte telephonic discussion with NTIA Senior Advisor Mark Seifert on March 23, 2009 to lobby NTIA against strict interpretation and enforcement of the Buy American language contained in Section 1605 of the Act (Section below).

Mr. Campbell, based in Cisco’s Washington office, is the firm’s Senior Director for Technology and Trade Policy, within the corporate Global Policy and Government Affairs division. As stated in his e-mail, he specifically sought clarification from NTIA that any network facilities built with BTOP funds not be ”...constituted a “public work” which would subject them to the “Buy American” requirement.” Alternatively, Campbell sought “a public interest waiver of the “Buy American” requirement…for all electronics equipment used in broadband networks.”

The report by the retained lobbyist who initiated the telephone discussion, and its public disclosure, are both mandated by the Obama Administration’s new disclosure rules for lobbyists seeking to influence any federal agencies relative to grant or loan expenditures from the ARRA. President Obama issued a Memorandum on March 20 which contained the strictures. As reported by the government watchdog group The Sunlight Foundation, the disclosure regulations set off a firestorm of concern on K Street when they were promulgated.

Our analysis:

1. To date we have only seen published stories on the Cisco meeting in Brad Reese’s column on Cisco in Network World, and on Democratic Underground. Cisco itself has not commented yet, although its government affairs site routinely stakes out free trade positions, as is common in the high tech sector. We believe the Cisco argument will receive far greater review and feedback from not only other electronics manufacturers, but from the telecom carriers that purchase their products, and from the bevy of trade associations representing the American high technology industry in Washington. Cisco itself has been instrumental in supporting the work of as many as 32 technology trade groups, including TechNet, in addition to its own robust lobbying presence.

2. The reality is that many components of any microelectronic array, and most semiconductors found in virtually any networking equipment, are fabricated abroad. Virtually no telecom network operating today in the United States, supporting either a public service provider or an enterprise, could function without the existence of global supply chains feeding into the final hardware product. We hope that review of the Act’s Sec. 1605 by NTIA will reasonably look at the realities of global manufacturing and trade in the telecom sector, as do current domestic content regulations of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service.

3. Cisco and its supported high tech trade groups, like TechNet (the folks that lobbied for a 100 Mpbs national broadband goal back in 2002), have been in the forefront of pushing for a progressive national broadband policy for years. Cisco understands the equation of greater broadband deployment equals greater economic activity and higher employment levels in the American economy. Cisco’s push for clarification of the “Buy American” provision is a reasonable and an ultimately practical request. The goal of an effective national broadband strategy is within reach, in large measure thanks politically and technically to Cisco.

The Buy American language of ARRA is found under Section 1605 of the Act:

BUY AMERICAN SEC. 1605. USE OF AMERICAN IRON, STEEL, AND MANUFACTURED GOODS. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for a project for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work unless all of the iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States. (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category of cases in which the head of the Federal department or agency involved finds that — (1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the public interest; (2) iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or (3) inclusion of iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent. (c) If the head of a Federal department or agency determines that it is necessary to waive the application of subsection (a) based on a finding under subsection (b), the head of the department or agency shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed written justification as to why the provision is being waived. (d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with United States obligations under international agreements.

Credit: Colleague Liz Zucco via StimulatingBroadband.com

Connected Nation doesn’t know how to do the mapping properly, but they’re the only one publicly proposing they have the knowledge and resources.

Our partners do have the resources and have proven scientific results on the most accurate broadband mapping that includes wireless, copper, cable and even fiber.

In the interim, here are the notes from Connected Nation’s ex=parte meeting with the NTIA as filed on the NTIA’s BTOP website.

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/comment.cfm?e=A5975F90-E10E-4695-9F5A-821F0686B521

NOTICE OF MEETING

On March 4, 2009, Tim Sloan, Dennis Amari, Alfred Lee, and Jim McConnaughey of NTIA’s Domestic Policy Office initiated a meeting with Brian Mefford and Phillip Brown of Connected Nation. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Connected Nation’s methodology for creating maps of broadband services availability and adoption in various States. During that discussion, Connected Nation made the following points:

•A reliable map depicting the availability and adoption of broadband services is critical to the development of orderly, transparent, and measurable projects to address unserved areas or to foster broadband service demand. A Geographic Information System (GIS) format at the street level is used for mapping and “gap” (identifying unserved or underserved areas) analysis.

•Mapping the availability/adoption of broadband service should be coupled with efforts to stimulate broadband demand in order to induce broadband service providers – both wired and wireless—to supply deployment data. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are important to legally protect confidential and proprietary information. Other useful mapping includes statewide maps that depict (average) actual upload and download speeds.

•If Federal funding of broadband mapping includes a requirement for non-Federal matching funds, the government should allow matching funds to be provided over multiple years. The government should also limit the use of in-kind payments as matching funds.

In attendance at the National Telecommunications (NTIA) today and what an interesting event it turned out to be. Let’s begin with the stats of standing room only turning people away at the door attendance at the Department of Commerce in addition to between 2500 and 3000 virtual attendees via webcast, which to my amazement was generally highly available and operational minus a few refreshes.

This was the first of many upcoming meetings the USDA/NTIA/FCC jointly have scheduled but hopefully unique in its content as this turned out to be more of a reverse Q&A with the audience in charge of the answers and the joint teams seeking the answers. The desire to provide transparency in the process and inclusion was apparent, but I believe that between the overwhelming task of handing out these funds and the need for transparency the message, if there was one, got totally lost.

First off let’s be clear that the NTIA is not set up to hand out grants like the USDA’s RUS has for many years and they have struggled a bit through the DTV transition coupons too. But their new leadership, of which have yet to be appointed, will be ready and prepared to take the helm and drive the ship right. I am highly encouraged by the leadership abilities of Julius Genachowski at the FCC and Larry Strickling at NTIA (both pending submission and voted approval).

Ultimately there were no real answers but I also found the questions to be scarce in complexity and depth both by those who attended the microphone as well as in conversations in the hallways. It’s a mad dash to get money and an even more insane task ahead of the NTIA to hand out a good portion of that free stimulus money by April without totally botching the handouts or simply feeding the carriers.

So how should they do it? My friends and I have ideas and are working to put them in place, in the meantime these funds and the opportunity is real for real operators and startups with funding and shovel-ready projects.

AND… if your project is not yet shovel-ready, call us. If it is, call us to help ensure you get a fair shot at the stimulus.

Aspen Wireless is extremely proud to announce the first major success of our new Municipal Professional Service!

Having combined efforts with our client in working with town decision-makers, we were able to formulate the most precise and applicable technology and business model. Aspen Wireless engineered an advanced network topology and unique business approach that, in combination with our client’s expertise as a service provider and a professionally written and presented proposal, won the bid over other local competition and many notable national players. The town’s choice was not made soley on technology or the business case, but rather the entire ‘eco-system’ of Aspen Wireless’ methodology appliedhand-in-hand with our client, which created the winning formula.

Let us help your community find its wireless direction!

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CenturyTel Wins Approval to Build Citywide Wi-Fi Network For Vail

MONROE, La., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Residents, businesses and visitors in Vail will soon have access to broadband wireless Internet service provided by CenturyTel and the Town of Vail. CenturyTel today announced that the Vail Town Council awarded the communications company a contract to build and operate a wireless broadband network for the Colorado ski resort destination.

Vail is the first Colorado city to move ahead with this type of partnership to build a municipal Wi-Fi network. The town selected CenturyTel to build its system following a competitive bid process that included proposals from six other companies. The agreement was unanimously approved by the Vail Town Council at its July 18 evening meeting.

CenturyTel will build a Wi-Fi mesh network in Vail and launch service by the end of 2006. Residents, businesses and visitors will be able to get free Internet access up to 300Kbps (kilobits per second) anywhere in town in one hour increments. Faster Internet service with speeds up to 3Mbps (megabits per second) will be available with pay plans for monthly, weekly or daily access.

“We applaud the Town of Vail for their forward thinking and initiative,” Karen Puckett, CenturyTel president and chief operating officer, said. “This is a strategic step for CenturyTel to expand our technologically advanced business outside of our traditional local telephone markets.”

CenturyTel and the Town of Vail worked together to develop additional services such as a Public Safety network and a private network for city workers. With these elements, the Town’s first responders and other public safety officials, as well as town employees will be able to securely connect to their intranet network and the Internet.

“We will have a state-of-the-art system that benefits everyone—residents, businesses, guests and our public safety personnel,” said Vail Mayor Rod Slifer. “This is the kind of innovation that continues to differentiate Vail from other ski resort destinations.”

The Wi-Fi network coverage will include the town limits/boundary of the Town of Vail. The network will deliver an affordable world-class Internet service to Vail residents, businesses and visitors. The citywide wireless system will use the latest in advanced carrier-grade mesh and wireless communications equipment to deliver high-speed wireless Internet access. Once the system is fully functional, it will be tested and fine-tuned to maximize the coverage area.

CenturyTel brings expert design and maintenance experience in building and operating communications networks. No capital will be required from the Town of Vail in the deployment or operation of the network. The company is committed to making the investment in capital and human resources to make the project a success. CenturyTel will bring advanced communications with a personal touch to the residents, businesses and visitors of Vail.

I just saw yet another article (in a local magazine) about this man and his taxi. Jon Barnes is a great guy and his entertaining and innovative spin on the old-fashioned taxi ride leaves those who know him, and have experienced his cab ride, with an experience of a lifetime.

***
Excerpt from Fast Company article:

What distinguishes the Ultimate Taxi from the standard fare? First, there’s the atmosphere. From the front seat of his 1978 Checker Cab, Barnes orchestrates a sophisticated in-taxi light show, complete with 9 lasers, 14 miniature stage lights, a revolving disco ball, and a $2,000 haze machine that pumps smoke at his passengers’ feet.

Finally, there’s the digital dimension. Using a wireless Internet connection, Barnes runs a Web site from the front seat of his cab. Want to alert him to your impending arrival? Just send him an email. Want a preview of your riding experience? Then listen to audio files of his sax solos, or look at photos of passengers that he’s shot with his digital “taxicam.”

“I like to think of this ride as a nondeletable file,” says Barnes. “It’s an experience that you’re stuck with forever.”

***

Yes, you definitely are the Ultimate Taxi. With features like a fog machine, a mirror ball, a drum machine, keyboard, laser projector, black lights, strobe lights, laptop, digital photo printer, and Wi-Fi (and this is just a small fraction of the whole package), the Ultimate Taxi more or less speaks for itself. Congrats Jon on another notable mention!

http://www.ultimatetaxi.com

Next step is to deliver WiMAX and greater mobile broadband connectivity, our plan – 100Mbps… that’s near enough to “beam you down” are you ready?

We stand by our work and by our clients. Aspen Wireless provides ongoing support services for your project or company. Various programs are available depending on the need, from remote phone support to emergency response for truly mission-critical deployments. We also offer a HotSpare response program for hardware failures and unexpected issues. You can count on Aspen Wireless.

Mr. Stevens is a technology entrepenurer in the Internet and communication space; primarily wireless (Wi-Fi, WiMAX) and IP communications (voice, video, etc), as well as a focus on convergence. His specialties range from network engineering to financial spreadsheets, deployments to business plans – all with significant depth of knowledge.

Most recently Mr. Stevens was a member of the Obama Campaign on the Tech/Media/Telecom (T/M/T) Policy Committee under Alec Ross and Larry Strickling.

Mr. Stevens efforts in lobbying Washington and working with the FCC are long and wide. Working with influential groups like WCA, PFF, and Part-15.org, as well as directly with folks like (former) FCC Chair Michael Powell and his commissioners lead to many favorable changes in spectrum, telecom, and Internet policy. The political landscape has changed as of recent, but some of the foundation laid prior to 2005 remains strong.

Over the years, Mr. Stevens has had the honor of speaking for groups and at various conferences such as; Wireless Communication Association International (WCAI), Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF), four-time returning at WISPCON, Telluride Technology Festival, and the FCC’s “Rural WISP Showcase”. Mr. Stevens recently spoke on Wireless and VoIP at the Internet Telephony Conference in San Diego.

Media interviews include a co-interview with Mr. Selby by The Wall Street Journal (2001), Christian Science Monitor (2004), San Jose Mercury News (2004), and recently in the High Country Business Review (2006). Mr. Stevens has also been featured on various local radio and Internet radio shows.

Scott’s historical bio can be found below.

Industries
Wireless (Wi-Fi/WiMAX)
Voice over IP (VoIP)

Specialties
Business Planning
Financial Outlook
RF Engineering
IP Engineering
Marketing / Sales
Legal Contracts
Public Speaking
Sales / Technical Training

Notable Accomplishments
World-record 74 mile high-capacity wireless data link
World-record 4.2 mile wireless link through a 600ft mountain
Assisted in the first ubiquitous Wi-Fi city network in the world
Consulted over 1000 WISPs in business and technology
Co-Founded the first nationwide broadband provider
Written winning RFP responses over major incumbents

History
Mr. Stevens became one of DISH’s early resellers in the late 90’s. At the turn of the century he moved to Denver and opened the doors on a fledgling industry – Wireless Broadband. Wi-Fi was in its infancy (wasn’t even called Wi-Fi yet) and he found more and more people across the USA and World taking this technology to broadband-starved rural markets, and deploying community-wide wireless broadband systems. Mr. Stevens assisted nearly 1000 of these upstart providers over the next four years.

The wireless distributor Mr. Stevens worked for went rapidly from its first million-dollar year in over 25 years to being one of the dominant distributors of wireless technology today, and are experiencing consecutive tens of million dollar years and was recently purchased by a large competing distributor. During his time Jim Selby who operated a WISP (Wireless ISP) in Aspen, Colorado invited Scott up to be co-interviewed with him by Pui-Wing Tam of The Wall Street Journal. The article was originally supposed to publish the week of September 11, 2001, but on December 7th came the first true realization of Wireless Broadband as something truly amazing.

Mr. Stevens was invited to Aspen by Mr. Selby to build out the first major regional WISP. This lead to a new concept that was brought to realization by a team in Aspen known as National Broadband. NBB was to be the first nationwide wireless broadband provider, with a unique approach of delivering Tier-1 fiber bandwidth to Tier-2 and 3 markets wirelessly. With $28 Million in private investment and fiber rights spanning 18,000 miles across 38 states, this was an amazing and ambitious project in 2003. NBB was successful in deploying 10% of the overall network, including deploying a community-wide wireless and ubiquitous Wi-Fi system – before any metro/muni systems were ever conceived. Relationships with WilTel, Intel, IBM, Microsoft and Wal-Mart were forged during this venture.

In 2004, Mr. Stevens went back to his roots where he founded a wireless product distribution company, Defacto Wireless. Mr. Selby assisted him in this venture, launched with only starvation capital, and in only 6 months of sales activities grossed $1.4 Million in revenue. Defacto established relationships with industry leading companies like Orthogon (acquired by Motorola in 2006), Redline, Dragonwave, Aperto, and Senao. Additionally, Defacto also created a product line known as AirMatrix, featuring one of the industry’s first outdoor Wi-Fi mesh radios, now deployed in over 20 countries. At this time WiMAX standards were being debated and 802.16d-2004 was ratified.

In late 2005 Mr. Stevens sold his interest in Defacto to establish a professional services firm in Portland, Oregon. With two of the largest and most prominent wireless/internet shows coming up, ISPCON and WiMAX World, his team worked fast and hard to launch the company from scratch in only 45-days. In front of audiences over 6,000 from over 50 countries in the world it was one of the busiest booths at both events.

During 2006 Mr. Stevens co-founded a IP Communications venture uniquely target-marketed at various affinity groups. The company went beyond VoIP to add many additional features and functions to this service in the true style of IP communications; SIP, video communications, content delivery and social media.

Also during 2006, Mr. Stevens under Aspen Wireless Technologies was hired to write a response for a Municipal Wi-Fi project. This RFP response was written for Vail, Colorado on behalf of CenturyTel, Inc, the 8th largest telco in the nation. The combination of engineering, writing, and CenturyTel’s commitment won over competing bids by Earthlink/Google, AT&T/Siemens, and an agent of Qwest. The network is currently operating in Vail, including the nation’s first 1Gbps enterprise wireless service.

Please see his LinkedIn profile for additional information, or to join networks together. You may also download his vCard contact information at the top of this page.

• STIMULUS UPDATED ***

  Yes, we can help your company or municipality (city, county, state) get $7.2B in ARRA Broadband Stimulus Funds via NTIA BTOP and USDA RUS. But also remember there are billions more ARRA funs available for investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure we can help with too!

  Please fill out our contact form with your request and we will get back with you to set up and interview with your executive staff to discuss the approach and your potential to stimulate your company or economy with ARRA Broadband Stimulus funds.

  http://www.aspenwireless.net/contact/

  ***

  Aspen Wireless has written winning RFP responses for its customers. These responses have won various towns and cities, both small rural and world-renowned places in the USA. Our engineering and response services combined with the right business approach between your company and the municipality, has won over incumbents like Earthlink/Google, AT&T/Siemens, Qwest and others.

  Municipal Broadband Wireless systems have become popular in the last few years to address the need for universal access to the Internet at Broadband speeds, both in economically disadvantaged areas as well as areas simply not served Broadband by conventional cable or telephony companies. Many municipal governments regard the availability… or lack of a availability of Broadband Internet Access as not only an economic development issue, but also a quality of life issue.

  

  The techniques, technologies, and systems for providing Broadband Wireless Internet Access on a Municipal scale are hardly new. Broadband Wireless systems have been deployed successfully for many years by, among others, Wireless ISPs. What is new is that there is now political will to make investments with public financing to deploy such systems, making universal Broadband Internet Access truly possible.

  Municipal wireless systems can be difficult to deploy… and even difficult to sort out competing proposals from different vendors, each offering their own unique technologies. Some vendors, especially those offering “simple and robust” Wi-Fi Mesh technology often run into unexpected obstacles that can compromise a Municipal Broadband Wireless system’s overall usefulness.

  Aspen Wireless, as a technology-neutral and vendor-neutral Systems Integration company with deep experience in the Broadband Wireless industry, is in a unique position to assist in preparation for Municipal Broadband Wireless systems:

  • Basic education on Broadband Wireless Internet Access – technology, trends, the “bigger picture”, for all personnel involved in a Municipal Broadband Wireless System
  • Assistance in identifying suitable technologies and potential vendors to target with RFPs
  • Assistance in crafting effective and vendor and technology-neutral Requests For Proposals (RFPs)
  • Assistance in evaluating and vetting RFPs
  • Assistance with evaluation work-in-progress and project completion phases of the construction of Municipal Broadband Wireless Internet Access networks

• Development of metrics for evaluating quality and availability of ongoing operation of Municipal Broadband Wireless Internet Access networks

Education is one of the most innovative users of Internet-related technology. After all, the Internet was born from a project to link disparate computer systems at colleges throughout the US. It is now considered essential to have Internet access in the vast majority of classrooms for reference, current events, and learning experiences that are possible only with the Internet, such as “paired classrooms” in two different countries and cultures.

Broadband Wireless technology can play a key role in almost any educational institution or organization. Some examples:

• Cost-effectively provide Internet connectivity between buildings on a campus or area at speeds comparable to fiber – 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps… and even faster. Significant savings can be realized by not using leased lines from the telephone company, and even more savings can be realized with the use of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) instead of conventional telephone service.
• Provide “canopy” Wi-Fi coverage to a college campus to provide voice and video services as well as conventional Internet access.

• Extend Internet connectivity to off-campus buildings, temporary structures or events, or mobility – tracking buses, webcams on security vehicles, and mobile research projects.

  Contact Aspen Wireless to learn more about how Broadband Wireless technology can generate significant savings and enhance the learning experience in your educational institution.

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Your Project Scope

National ambitions? Absolutely.
Campus interconnection? no problem.
Innovative new concepts? we love a challenge!

Whether it’s broadband itself or applications like smartgrid – we specialize in the business and technology aspects from planning to execution with deep knowledge and years of leadership experience.

As a technology-neutral company we will select the best next-generation technologies to ensure your network achieves the requirements of your initiative. If you have a technology or vendor preference we will happily work to with them to ensure the same success using the partners you trust.

Transmission Line

Transmission line technologies including fiber, telco copper, utility copper and cable provide unsurpassed quality and speeds and best of all, we work with them all.

Wireless and Microwave

Wireless opens doors. Doors that lead to areas unserved as well as doors to mobility in an increasingly connected world. Of all the expertise, we know wireless better than the back of our hands. It belongs married to the best of the wireline technologies.

Applications

Broadband is only the beginning. As we have long believed and as our Administration has acknowledged in the stimulus bill, broadband is the foundation to provide connectivity and imagination to our economy. Whether connecting users, schools, hospitals or the smartgrid; broadband is only as good as the applications that successfully ride over it.