Inventive Media would like to formally announce the unveiling of the WISP Directory 2.0 at http://www.wispdirectory.com/ - now with zip code search, ratings, reviews and WISP Technology used by each WISP.

Inventive Media has put a few hundred hours into revising the directory, weeding out dead entries and filling out the information on incomplete listings, and we now have over 1800 verified WISPs in the US, and 169 listings for WISP-related businesses.    Our goals are as follows:  1) Collect the coverage information for each WISP by ZIP Code so we can direct customers to the WISPs  2) Show the FCC, news media and other organizations that WISPs are providing coverage to an enormous geographic footprint  3)  Help define the places where broadband is still needed in the US.

Setting up a listing on the WISP Directory is simple and costs nothing.   Click on the “User Login” button at the top and you will be taken to a form that will ask for your name, username for the site and a password.    All accounts are manually approved to prevent spam, and you will receive an email when the account has been activated.

To add your own entry, simply browse to the appropriate Category, and click on the “Add your listing here” link at the top of the category.   You can then put in the following information:

-          Name of the business

-          Description of the business

-          Postal Address

-          Telephone/Fax

-          Contact E-mail

-          Website Address

-          ZIP Codes where service is offered

-          Type of WISP Technology used

-          WISPA Member

If you have filed an FCC Form 477, use the same zip codes for the service offering field.   You can select multiple types of WISP Technology, according to the mix of equipment deployed.   WISPA Membership status will be verified if it is selected.

If your business is already listed in the directory, go ahead and register, then send an email to info@wispdirectory.com asking to have ownership of your listing transferred to your username.   Once ownership is granted, you will be able to make modifications to your listing at any time.

Feel free to look around the site and offer up corrections for any outdated or inaccurate listings, and rate and/or review any vendors or service providers from the WISP-related businesses that you have done business with.   Encourage your users to use the directory and provide reviews and ratings for your business – especially if they are happy customers.   This is a great place for WISPs to show how they are doing a great job providing competitive broadband service – nothing carries as much weight as a good customer testimonial.

If you feel that there is something missing from the Directory, let us know.   We have some other features that are in progress and will be deployed on the site over the next few months, but would welcome any feedback or ideas on how to make it work better.

If you run a WISP operation, or a business that sells to WISPs, please take the time to register on the WISP Directory and help us show the world what WISPs are doing to bridge the digital divide.

Thank you for your support!

Matt Larsen

Inventive Media / WISP Directory

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – (November 13, 2008) – Vecima Networks Inc.
(“Vecima”) (TSX:VCM), the Last Mile Solution® for broadband wired and wireless networks,
today announced the launch of its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certified 3.65
GHz VistaMAX base and subscriber stations, the latest addition to Vecima’s VistaMAX family
of WiMAX compliant products. Based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard, the FCC certified
3.65 GHz VistaMAX products, including both base and subscriber stations, offers US
operators the opportunity to reap the benefits of WiMAX while operating in a lightly licensed
piece of spectrum……more

VICTORIA – (November 14, 2008) – Vecima Networks (TSX: VCM), a leading supplier of wireless Last Mile
Solutions™, today announced the commercial release of the WaveRider next generation indoor modem. The
LMS8000 Series 900 MHz lineup now includes the highest throughput OFDM indoor subscriber unit in the
industry. The new EUM8005 indoor radio enables wireless Internet service providers to increase their return
on investment by deploying premium indoor, high throughput wireless broadband access gear to their
subscribers……more

Rick Harnish, President of WISPA hosted a reception for vendors and WISPs at ISPCON in San Jose on Tuesday evening.  Rick introduced  and thanked the Reception sponsors which brought a round of applause.  Gold Sponsors were Alvarion and Redline, Silver Sponsor was Poynting Antennas and the Bronze Sponsor was Demarc Technologies.  Rick also thanked other Vendor Members who contributed to the Door Prize Raffle, Peter Radizeski, Alex Goldman, Claire Chaplais, Sarah Gross and Laurie Hilt for their assistance in organizing the ISPCON events.

Harnish also announced WISPA accomplishments for this past year.  He felt the largest accomplishment was the successful lobbying efforts for the TV White Spaces Spectrum. The FCC committee has approximately 20 members now thanks to Jack Unger’s efforts to rebuild the committee.

WISPA sent operators to Washington DC in July to meet with Commissioners, staff and OET to discuss White Spaces Issue.  Steve Coran from Rini/Coran Law Firm participated and assisted our operator liaisons in formulating the strategy to be discussed.

While pursuing a licensed-lite solution, WISPA felt that our efforts have brought attention to the need for more unlicensed spectrum to allow innovators and entrepreneurs to develop new broadband services without the high cost of spectrum auctions.

Harnish also stated that he believes that our nation will need to continue to assist small to medium business succeed if we are going to pull out of this economic crisis anytime soon.  The continued trend we have been in for the last couple decades is leading to a monopoly/duopoly in many industries which is stifling competition and innovation, shipping jobs and investment overseas.

Additonal and ongoing accomplishments are the recent Board Election which raised the number of Board Members from 7 to 9 members.  New Board members announced are Butch Evans, Frank Muto and Dennis Burgess.

He also recognized the accomplishments of the Past President Matt Larsen who recently resigned from the Board but has been a visionary in the creation of WISPA and has served as Vice President or President each year until his resignation.

WISPA is strongly considering an Executive Director, either part time or full time.  The board is also considering raised membership fees, but would rather attract more WISPs to be members than raise the fees.

WISPA is investigating partnership opportunities with other associations including FISPA and Comptel as well as a Not-for-Profit group called Connected Nation.  These partnerships will be further investigated and pursued over the next coming months.

Chuck McGown of Wireless Beehive, transitioned the Motorola list from another association to the WISPA mail servers.  This list has become the most popular list we have.  Harnish thanked Chuck and his efforts.  He also encouraged everyone to attend Animal Farm 09 on January 14-16^th at the Utah State Fair Park.  www.wbmfg.com/animalfarm.

Harnish then allowed each sponsor to come to the podium and introduce their companies and say a few words. 

Two Awards were given away this year.  Jack Unger, FCC Committee Chairman and WISPA Board Secretary received The 2008 WISPA Outstanding Contribution Award.  Jack’s lead and volunteer efforts of many hours of work as secretary and participating in the White Spaces lobbying efforts made his selection easy from the Board’s perspective.

Nathan Stooke of Wisper Wireless Internet in the St. Louis area was selected as the 2008 WISP Operator of the Year.  Nathan has grown his operation from one man and a bucket truck to an efficient and well respected business which now has 23 employees and 200 broadcast locations.

Harnish wound down the evening by holding the biannual Door Prize Raffle.  The estimated total value of the door prizes is close to $30000.  Winners are listed below.

WISPA Shirt - Jack Unger Ask-Wi.com

WISPA Shirt - Mike Prachar Rapid Link

WISPA Shirt - Jim Landowski  JL Consulting

WISPA Shirt - Brian Tesfazghi TESFA

Freespace-  2 X4000 Lucaya access points - Chuck Profito CV Access

Freespace- 1 Pair of PTP radios - Bjorn Willson Majornet

Jack Unger - Ask-Wi.com - 1 CQ Customer Qualification File - Josh Garza Great Auk Wireless

Net Sapiens Starter Pack $3500 value - Greg Noble Great Auk Wireless

Poynting Antennas  1 5Ghz 23 dbi Enclosure - Dr. Jan Zaluda Scientific Services

Demarc Tech 1 25% Discount off of Next Purchase - Nathon Stooke Wisper Wireless

Freespace- 1 Pair of PTP radios - Carl Shivers Aristotle.Net

Freespace- 10 pack Lucaya 1208 Client Units - Dave Giles Invisimax

WISPA Membership - Shea Kelly Circle Computer Resources

1 WISPA Shirt - Jim Baller Baller Herbst Law Group

1 WISPA Shirt - Jeff Broadwick Imagestream

1 WISPA Shirt - Jeff Crews Eastern Oregon Internet

Freespace- 1 Pair of PTP radios - Jack Unger Ask-Wi.com

Net Sapiens Starter Pack $3500 value - Donny Smith Jaguar Communications

Freespace-  2 X4000 Lucaya access points Rick Harnish Great American Broadband

1 Red Flag Rules from Rini/Coran  -  Eden Tamalsko TEFSA

1 Ligowave 50% off Coupon on PTP link $995 value -  Rehan Ahmed Super Technologies

1 WISPA Shirt - Tom Millitzer New Commerce Communications

1 WISPA Shirt - Anand Buch Net Sapiens

Poynting Antennas 5 Ghz 19 dbi Enclosure - Ivan Jenkins Microserv

1 Demarc Tech 25% Discount off of Next Purchase - John Yep Multiware Enterprises

Vox - Nintendo Wii  - Elizabeth Bowles Aristotle.Net

Freespace- 1 Pair of PTP radios - John Silva Engineered Safety Devices

Net Sapiens Starter Pack - Bjorn Willson Majornet

1 Poynting Antenna  2.4 15.5 dbi Enclosure - Gary C Border Digital Automation Associates

1 Poynting Antenna Micropoint - Travis Johnson Microserv

Imagestream Envoy Router - Steve Coran Rini Coran PC

Freespace- 1 Pair of PTP radios - Ivan Jenkins Microserv

CTI/RedLine AN80 5.2 PTP Link -  Dave Giles Invisimax

1 WISPA Shirt - Suzanne Urash Vox

1 WISPA Shirt - Neil Abramson Vox

Peter Radizeski Sellicom Book - Elizabeth Bowles Aristotle

In its continuing efforts to promote efficient use of spectrum and to extend the benefits of such use to the public, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted a Second Report and Order (Second R&O) that establishes rules to allow new, sophisticated wireless devices to operate in broadcast television spectrum on a secondary basis at locations where that spectrum is open.  (This unused TV spectrum is now commonly referred to as television “white spaces”).  The rules adopted today will allow for the use of these new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses.

The rules represent a careful first step to permit the operation of unlicensed devices in the TV white spaces and include numerous safeguards to protect incumbent services against harmful interference.  The rules will allow for both fixed and personal/portable unlicensed devices.  Such devices must include a geolocation capability and provisions to access over the Internet a data base of the incumbent services, such as full power and low power TV stations and cable system headends, in addition to spectrum-sensing technology.  The data base will tell the white space device what spectrum may be used at that location.

Wireless microphones will be protected in a variety of ways.  The locations where wireless microphones are used, such as sporting venues and event and production facilities, can be registered in the data base and will be protected in the same way as other services.  The Commission also has required that devices include the ability to listen to the airwaves to sense wireless microphones as an additional measure of protection for these devices.

All white space devices are subject to equipment certification by the FCC Laboratory.  The Laboratory will request samples of the devices for testing to ensure that they meet all the pertinent requirements.

The Commission also will permit certification of devices that do not include the geolocation and data base access capabilities, and instead rely solely on spectrum sensing to avoid causing harmful interference, subject to a much more rigorous approval process.

In a process that will be open to the public, applications will be released for public comment prior to agency action.  Such devices will be tested by our Laboratory to a “Proof of Performance” standard both in the lab and in a variety of real-world environments to ensure they do not cause interference to licensed services when in use.  The staff report and recommendation will also be released for public comment.  For now, certification of any such device will require approval by the full Commission.

Manufacturers may continue to provide additional information to the Commission to support the use of higher power devices in adjacent channels.  In addition, the Commission will explore in a separate Notice of Inquiry whether higher-powered unlicensed operations might be permitted in TV white spaces in rural areas.

The Commission will closely oversee and monitor the introduction of TV white space devices.  The Commission will act promptly to remove from the market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference and will require the responsible parties to take appropriate actions to remedy any interference that may occur.

Action by the Commission November 4, 2008, by Second Report and Order (FCC 08-260). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, and McDowell with Commissioner Tate approving and dissenting in part.  Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell.

For additional information, contact Alan Stillwell at (202) 418-2470 or alan.stillwell@fcc.gov.

Martin Statement

Copps Statement

Adelstein Statement

Tate Statement

McDowell Statement

FCC

Spectrum sharing would benefit consumers

Washington, D.C. - October 27, 2008 - Many Americans, especially those living in rural areas have never had affordable broadband Internet access.  In a letter filed with the FCC last week, WISPA, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (www.wispa.org), showed the FCC how it can make valuable TV White Space spectrum available for new services.  The FCC is scheduled to vote on November 4 on how this spectrum can be used after the DTV transition occurs in February 2009.

WISPA offered a detailed “licensed-lite” solution for unused TV channels.  Unlike expensive spectrum auctions and “noisy” unlicensed spectrum, the “licensed-lite” approach relies on a spectrum sharing system that enables all users to operate without interference.  It would benefit the public by allowing the development of new and innovative types of unlicensed broadband devices and services.  It would also benefit WISPs by improving the service range of their existing networks, thereby allowing WISPs to reach new customers.  WISPA’s proposal also ensures that consumers will continue to receive over-the-air television signals without interference.

Rick Harnish, WISPA’s President, said “We believe adoption of our “licensed-lite” proposal will stimulate rural economies around the nation by enabling low cost ubiquitous broadband service from local and regional operators.  Children growing up in small towns deserve the same opportunities created by broadband adoption as those children in metropolitan areas.  Small businesses and rural entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of a growing economy and we encourage the FCC Commissioners to do their part in reviving Rural America.”

Jack Unger, WISPA Secretary and Chair of WISPA’s FCC Committee, added, “We believe that there are enough White Space frequencies for all wireless users to share, without creating interference. Our “licensed-lite” proposal adopts a “common-ground” approach that benefits all users without relying on controversial “spectrum-sensing” techniques.  Our technical solution uses a geolocation database that makes frequency sharing work. We urge the FCC Commissioners to adopt our “licensed-lite” proposal at their November 4th meeting because we believe it truly represents a “win-win” solution for all parties.”

Since 2004, over 30,000 comments have been filed with the FCC suggesting how the White Space frequencies should be used.  Broadcasters want to be sure that new White Space users will not create interference with television reception.  Silicon Valley firms favor unlicensed use for personal/portable devices that would rely on the controversial “sensing” technologies opposed by broadcasters.  WISPA’s “licensed-lite” approach represents a middle-of-the road solution that accommodates all of these interests.

FOR MORE INFORMATION - CONTACT:

Jack Unger, Chair WISPA FCC Committee  818-227-4220 or junger@ask-wi.com

Stephen Coran, Principal, Rini Coran, PC  202-463-4310 or scoran@rinicoran.com

The white spaces media blitz continues.

Every other e-mail I’ve received this morning is from an interest group or Internet company that either wants the FCC to take quick action on its white spaces rule–or put it on hold pending a public comment period.

What are white spaces? When TV stations switch from analog to digital signals in February 2009, unused spectrum–or white spaces–will emerge, and companies like Microsoft and Google want to use it for mobile broadband. Broadcasters, led by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), argue that such activity could disrupt TV signals.

The FCC must not “unduly jeopardize television viewing,” chief executives from ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX wrote FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on Thursday.

Broadcasters are pushing the FCC to reschedule its Nov. 4 vote on the issue until after a comment period that would likely last about two months. White spaces advocates like Google and Microsoft, however, claim that enough time has passed and action is required now in order to move forward on mobile broadband technologies.

The FCC last week released a report that gave conditional support to white spaces devices, and said it would vote on a final rule on Election Day.

NAB wants that vote delayed, and a press release war was born. More banter after the jump.”

“The FCC has to get this matter right the first time,” according to the networks. “If millions of unlicensed devices flood the market in the next few years, and it turns out that sensing still does not work, or that 40 milliwatts is far too high… how will that damage be undone?”

The FCC report said it would support devices with sensing and geo-location capabilities at certain power levels. Devices that rely on sensing alone, however, must be re-submitted to the FCC for additional testing.

NAB supports devices with geo-location, according to documents on its Web site and filings with the FCC, but has seized upon the potential problems with devices that rely on sensing alone.

According to the networks, the FCC report does not include “the kind of solid scientific foundation the commission normally requires before proceeding to adopt a rule allowing a new service.”

A sampling of other comments that have trickled in all morning:

Jake Ward, spokesman, Wireless Innovation Alliance

“Desperate times call for distorted realities. It is distressing to think that [broadcasters] are not only wasting millions of dollars and thousands of hours lobbying Congress to stop technology and innovation from moving forward, but they are using baseless and troubling fear tactics with which to do it.”

Richard Whitt, Washington telecom and media counsel, Google”Just as Wi-Fi sparked a revolution in the way we connect to the web, freeing the “white space” airwaves could help unleash a new wave of technological innovation, create jobs, and boost our economy. But it can happen only if the FCC moves forward with rules that make the best possible use of this spectrum.”

“While the science should speak for itself, that won’t stop the broadcasting lobby from trying to use stalling tactics to derail the technology before the rules of the road are even written. These are the same folks who over the years have sought to block one innovative technology after another, from cable TV to VCRs to satellite TV and radio to low power FM to TiVos.”

Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)

WISPA proposes a “licensed-lite” approach for fixed services in certain portions of the TV white spaces band, which includes nationwide, non-exclusive licensing, registration of base-station locations, and a geo-location database, among other requests. Read more on the NAB Web site.

Steve B. Sharkey, senior director of regulatory and spectrum policy at Motorola

“After more than four years of debate the commission has considered all aspects of the technology necessary to allow use of the TV White Space while fully protecting incumbents. Based on this careful deliberation, including extensive testing of devices, the chairman has put forward a plan that allows the TV White Space effort to move forward responsibly. The time is right to provide a clear path for fixed and mobile broadband deployment using geo-location enabled technology.”

Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press

“As longtime supporters of quality local television, we are shocked and dismayed by the NAB’s inflammatory accusations. This strategy of misdirection and hysteria is intended to distract attention from sound policy making at the FCC. Just because broadcasters aren’t happy with the results of the FCC’s exhaustive engineering report is no excuse for these unfounded claims.”

“The FCC report is clear: White spaces technology won’t interfere with television signals. Having lost on the facts, the NAB has resorted to angry ranting. This crucial decision should be based on science, not who can shout the loudest. We urge the FCC to ignore the noise and open the airwaves to benefit everyone.”

Joint FCC filing from the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV), NAB, as well as ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX

“The end-game for [white spaces advocates] is, over the next few years, to increase the power of personal, portable devices to dangerously high levels, with complete disregard for the effects on the public’s television broadcasting service (as well as on licensed wireless microphone operations and cable).”

http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/isp_organization_tries_to_inject_sanity_into_white_space_debate.html
WISPA – the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association – is suggesting that a compromise it calls a “licensed-lite” solution to the television white space controversy – would open up holes for wireless internet providers without endangering free over-the-air television service. Saying their proposal is congruent with comments from broadcast advocate Association for Maximum Service Television, it says its plan “would promote broadband deployment and operations in rural and underserved communities, facilitate interference-free operations and provide interference protection to incumbents.”

WISPA members are already serving broadband to some 2M rural subscribers in unlicensed portions of the spectrum. And even in this relatively small area, it is already running into interference problems from within its own membership.

“In fact, operations in the unlicensed bands have proliferated to the point where congestion and ‘noise’ have created a ‘tragedy of the commons’ that prevent WISPs from continuing to serve existing customers with reliable signals,” wrote the organization. “WISPs know firsthand the means and methods for mitigating and avoiding interference, but those solutions are temporary, costly and ultimately too little, too late to avoid disrupting service to the public.”

WISPA’s solution involves the following for those who would enter the white space arena: Get a non-exclusive national license; register base stations for the provision of local fixed service (which would be checked and allowed only if they would not interfere with incumbent services); the provider would have a 180-day clock to commence service or lose the base; with interference safety precautions in place, a 20 watt transmission ceiling should be possible – which would be far preferable to the 4 watt ceiling in many instances under consideration under the plan stated by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

“WISPA believes that this “common ground” approach will allow WISPs, television broadcasters, network interconnection providers, wireless microphone devices, other incumbent licensees and users of low-power unlicensed devices to share the TV White Space spectrum on a non-interfering basis.”

RBR/TVBR observation: Anything has to be better than the wild wild West proposal currently on the table. But if the FCC has its heart set on chaos…

Wispa Members and List Users,

Yesterday, WISPA filed our Ex Parte Comments for FCC Docket 04-186, Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands Additional Spectrum for unlicensed devices below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz band.  The submission can be found here.  Please review our comments first.  Jack Unger, Steve Coran of Rini/Coran and the entire FCC Committee spent hours lobbying, discussing, researching and writing these comments which encourage “Licensed-Lite” use of the TV Whitespaces which will be opened up in Feb. 2009 due to the Digital TV transition.  We owe all of these people many thanks and it is our responsibility to support their efforts by submitting our support through individual comments.

While reviewing the comments on the FCC website this morning, it became apparent to me that there is stiff competition from the AV industry against this proposal.  I reviewed nearly 300 comments from people all over the US in opposition to this FCC proposal.  I did see several which supported the use of these bands for Wireless Broadband but we are heavily outnumbered.  There are currently over 30,000 comments filed under this docket.  Others see how important this is, our industry needs to understand it as well.

It is my responsibility to all of the WISP operators to encourage each of you to file your comments in full support of the WISPA Ex Parte Comments or at least partial support with clarification if you oppose some part of our comments.  I will be filing my comments as soon as I finish this email.  This is a huge opportunity for each of us to help educate the FCC commissioners on the importance of opening up this valuable spectrum to “Licensed-Lite” operation for wireless broadband.  You can review all comments at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.hts?ws_mode=retrieve_list&id_proceeding=04-186.

Please go to the ECFS website to file your comments today.  The deadline is quickly approaching with the FCC Commissioners set to publicize the rules for these bands on November 4^th.  It is essential that you take 5-10 minutes out of your busy schedule today or tomorrow to write and file your comments.

Rick Harnish

President

WISPA

WISPA’s election for three new Directors on the WISPA Board of Directors successfully concluded last Friday, October 17th. This election was conducted in accordance with WISPA’s Bylaws and the current Board of Directors today passed a motion to verify and accept the election results. The Board vote was 6 “Ayes” and 0 “Nays”. In other words, all of the current Board members voted “Aye” to accept the results.

WISPA is very fortunate that we had five very good candidates willing to serve on the Board. The election results were very close with only one or two votes separating the candidates. The final vote tallies are as follows.

Total votes by candidate:

Butch Evans 69

Dennis Burgess 46

Frank Muto 40

Michael Steed 39

Jeff Crews 38

On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate our three new Directors. These are working positions and we look forward to both the new ideas that our new Directors will contribute as well as the new energy, work and sweat that they will contribute to help WISPA continue to grow, to develop and to continue to improve the state of the WISP industry.

I also want to thank the two candidates who were only one or two votes short of joining us on the Board. They both have excellent qualifications and a commendable willingness to serve WISPA. It is my hope that the new Board will reach out to them and extend them opportunities to serve in leadership positions within WISPA’s organizational structure. Again, our sincere thanks to all five of our excellent candidates. I’m looking forward to working with all of you as we move forward as an organization together.

Jack Unger WISPA Secretary