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.

In a report to Congress, the NTIA said Wednesday that it won’t conclude doling out the first round of broadband stimulus funding until February 2010.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration clarified in its third quarterly progress report to Congress this week that it will be dolling out the entirety of the grant money during the next ten months.

The year 2010 is going to be a busy time for the period for both the NTIA and the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities is the other agency, the two government entities charged with distributing $7.2 billion of federal funding.

“NTIA will not conclude the first round of BTOP funding at the end of 2009 as originally targeted, but is on course to do so in February 2010,” states the report (PDF).

NTIA and RUS announced this month that they will limit the remaining grant awards to one more round of funding, which they write in the report “will begin early in 2010.”

Courtesy of BroadbandCensus.com

One of our clients was just notified today that their application has passed Round One of the RUS BIP / NTIA BTOP broadband stimulus application process.

Round Two is coming up quickly with the RFI in a couple of weeks and a NOFA this winter (with a 60-day application time) inside sources say.

Do you need help with Step Two? How about Round Two?

Aspen Wireless can help, contact us.

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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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.

Please join our Broadband Stimulus webinar at 1PM MDT:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/587225907

WEBINAR: VITAL information, REAL winning strategies and how to QUICKLY prepare your business!

• Company Introductions


• Quick Stimulus Overview


• Key Eligibility Criteria


• Positioning and Strategy


• Engineering your Business


• Preparing your Application


• Bonus – Territory Saver!

We recommend your computer mic/speakers or call with the info below:

Dial: 712-338-7121

Access Code: 587-225-907

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the webinar

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.

DEADLINE 6/19/09

With the assistance of Aspen Wireless our clients successfully submitted over $3M in grant applications across 4 states to the USDA RUS under the Community Connect program, which NOFA totaled $13M in available funds.

The Community Connect program is NOT a stimulus-related program but rather an annual program by the USDA RUS for the funding of broadband networks:

• UNSERVED: Communities not served by broadband AND


• RURALITY: Under 20,000 Population Ranked by tier and/or


• NEED: Below 75% State Median Household Income (MHI) ranked by tier


• MATCH: These grants last for a period of 2 years and include both capital and operational costs with only a 15% matching requirement (which can be certain in-kind contributions).

Community Connect grant applications must be submitted on a community-by-community basis, individually and show significant work with and involvement by the local community in planning.  An additional requirement is to build or create a staffed digital community center with computers and free broadband access, operating beyond the first 2 years.

Aspen Wireless created the grant applications, (wireless) broadband network engineering, and financial modeling as well as work by gaining local support from Senators, Public Safety Offices, Economic Development Districts, County and City Commissioners, Mayors and Educators.

We appreciate our clients’ trust in us and look forward to many successful grant awards for these rural communities in need of broadband.

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.

Some guideline updates were posted on the NTIA BTOP and USDA RUS websites for their ARRA Broadband Stimulus grant and loan programs for grants and loans.  Below are the links.

Click here for USDA updates, posted 05/14/09

Click here for NTIA updates, posted 05/15/09

Additionally, regarding spectrum reform to a panel consisting of Michael Calabrese VP at New America Foundation, Chris Sacca VC and former VP at Google, Jonathan Spalter Chair of Mobile Future Advisor Board and Brian Knapp of Loopt, moderated by Carolyn Brandon of CTIA.

http://broadbandcensus.com/2009/05/21st-spectrum-policy-should-include-map-experts-say/

Breaking News: RUS To Post 2009 Funds Notice for Community Connect Grant Program

Courtesy of colleague Peter Pratt stimulatingbroadband.com

04/20/09 The Community Connect Program of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), will post its Notice stating available funds for the Program’s 2009 grant cycle within the next 12 to 18 hours.

The Notice will state the grant application deadline date for 2009 applications is June 19, 2009.

The Program within RUS funds telecommunications networks in designated rural and underserved areas of the domestic United States, with grants, loans, and loan guarantees.

The Community Connect Program is funded with annual federal appropriations for the USDA in the range of $20 million to $25 million. The Program is strongly supported by Members of Congress from rural states who routinely work to include the programmatic funding in each federal funding cycle’s Farm Bill. The RUS previously announced that “25 communities in 16 states” received a total of ”$15.6 million in broadband community connect grants” in the 2008 funding round.

Sources within the USDA have stated that the funds Notice will be posted either this evening, April 20, or Tuesday morning, April 21, Washington time (EDT).

Deadlines for grant, loan, and loan guarantee applications, and other terms and conditions of the Program, will be posted on the website of the “Rural Development Community Connect Grant Program,” at: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm

Note: The annual appropriations and programmatic guidelines for the Community Connect Program are distinct from the $2.5 billion in appropriations and guidelines yet to be issued for the RUS portion of the “broadband stimulus” funds contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the ARRA-derived RUS program is expected to be released on or about June 12, 2009 as previously reported by StimulatingBroadband.com here.

The June 12 target date for the NOFA is expected to be a joint issuance with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as the rulemaking proceeding has been jointly conducted by both agencies to date.

Courtesy of colleague Peter Pratt stimulatingbroadband.com

Recommendations for RUS Broadband Stimulus Programs

Courtesy of colleague Liz Zucco via stimulatingbroadband.com

04/17/09 (Editor’s Note: With this posting, we welcome our colleague Liz Zucco. Liz has deep experience in successfully writing and winning grants and loans for rural carriers, community organizations, and healthcare providers. We welcome her invaluable expertise in the complex realm of federal grantsmanship, program management, and rural broadband. Liz knew rural broadband before rural broadband was cool.)

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan program within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been invaluable in moving funding for rural broadband initiatives out into the field. However, when we examine the loan program and the Community Connect Grant program together, we see that there remain gaps in the methods and availability of funds for rural access. Even with the positive terms of federally backed loans, many times there is just not enough market potential to warrant a loan to serve a particular rural market.

While the Community Connect program provides grants, we believe the program suffers from limitations such as the inability to group together multiple townships to provide for management and operation of a larger system. Such systems scale better and tend to be more sustainable.

With the new $2.5 Billion funding soon to be made available for RUS from the American Recovery and Renewal Act of 2009 (ARRA), RUS now has an important opportunity to do better leverage its funds via some simple program reforms.

We would like to propose that the RUS consider making the following changes in its grant and loan strategies in order to fulfill the goal of access for all Americans.

1. Provide a loan/grant combination for RUS borrowers to assist them in leveraging their operational costs when they are willing to take the risk of a loan. This will give these good borrowers the chance to extend their footprint with assistance for capital costs, and repay monies borrowed to continue the RUS’ ability to make loans. This is a fair solution, as operators are in many cases struggling to get into the leaner and less populated areas. In many cases operators are forced to drop markets altogether due to the inability to justify capital costs. Yet these same borrowers could support their operational costs if given the opportunity to build into these areas with assistance in the form of a grant.

2. Allow the Community Connect program to encompass more than “one incorporated area”. This would allow entire counties to develop unified broadband initiatives, thus improving operational sustainability and better leveraging the costs of running networks in extremely rural markets. Many towns and hamlets are only but a few thousand people. By combining five or six small towns into one consolidated service area, the costs to build and maintain networks are apportioned over a larger revenue base. The rural service provider thus increases its chances of sustaining the network in a previously unserved region.

Credit: Colleague Liz Zucco via StimulatingBroadband.com

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

Broadband Stimulus Public Comment Round Closes at Midnight, 60 Day Target Set for Grant Guidelines…

Courtesy of colleague Peter Pratt stimulatingbroadband.com

04/13/09 The public comment period for input to the two federal agencies writing grant guidelines for the total $7.2 Billion in broadband stimulus funding contained in the American Recovery and Renewal Act of 2009 (ARRA) closes today, April 13, at 12:00 midnight (EDT), local time in Washington DC. A federal agency spokesman further stated today that a target date of June 12 has been set for issuance of funding guidelines for the broadband grants and loans.

Mr. Mark Tolbert, Spokesperson for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the US Department of Commerce, confirmed for StimulatingBroadband.com late this afternoon that the public comment portal at the NTIA website would close this evening at midnight.

Importantly, Tolbert also confirmed that NTIA has set a “target of approximately 60 days” from today for official promulgation of its Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA). The NOFA will provide grant and loan applicants for all ARRA broadband stimulus funds, with guidelines for how to apply, and what selection criteria will be used for evaluation of applications. Tolbert also stated that there will not be another public comment round, nor period for reply comments as is common in proceedings of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), between now and the release of the NOFA on or about June 12.

Mr. Tolbert’s statement, giving this 60-day target cycle for issuance of the NOFA from today’s comment deadline is more specific than the range recently given by NTIA Policy Advisor Mark Seifert on April 2 to a House Subcommittee. In testimony to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, chaired by Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA), Seifert stated that NTIA estimated release of the grant guidelines would take “a couple of months”.

In filed written testimony, Seifert stated, “A Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) will be published as expeditiously as possible, likely in the next couple of months, that will describe in detail how the application process will work, how we will evaluate the applications, as well as how grantees will be held accountable, including requirements for progress reports and job creation measurements, to ensure that taxpayer investments are protected.”

“We will be releasing a Notice of Funds Availability,” stated Tolbert this afternoon in a telephone interview “which will spell out criteria and instructions which lead into the application process.”

The NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) portal has been receiving public comments, which are made jointly to NTIA and to the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) division of the US Department of Agriculture, since opening on March 10. Over this 34-day period, just over 1,150 comments had been posted to the public comment site by Monday afternoon.

Just over 180 comments have been filed today alone, up to 5:30 pm (EDT). Comments posted today come from a diverse range of commentators, as has been typical of the previous postings. Comments today included those filed by New Jersey Governor John Corzine, by Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) the large American manufacturer of wireless infrastructure and personal wireless terminals and cell phones, by the Administration of Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, by the City of New York, by several telecommunications wireline and wireless carriers, and by Mayor Mark Hipsher of Grainger County, Tennessee.

The broadband stimulus provisions of ARRA appropriated a total of $7.2 Billion for grants, loans, and loan guarantee funds to be dispersed by the 2 federal agencies.

Courtesy of colleague Peter Pratt stimulatingbroadband.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Mar 19, 2009 – Main Street Broadband LLC announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Broadband South LLC, whose services are branded as Main Street Broadband, has begun build out of its advanced wireless network utilizing its recently closed $34 million USDA Rural Development Loan. The loan directly supports Main Street’s efforts to bring affordable wireless broadband services to over 120 communities in southern Georgia and northern Florida, and provides a key stimulus to economic development in the region.

“This is a great program and initiative,” states Mike Mies, Co-Founder and CEO of Main Street Broadband, “The USDA’s support for making broadband services available to rural communities and Main Street’s mission to provide and manage a state-of-the-art network for high speed internet and digital voice services is a winning combination.”

The communities targeted by Main Street have limited or no access to broadband services as a result of the high cost to run cable or fiber to provide the services. Fixed and mobile wireless broadband technologies are now able to provide reliable access at higher speeds and with a greater reach, making Main Street Broadband’s voice and data services affordable for the end users.

Main Street Broadband is deploying WiMax technology to provide voice and data services to each community the company serves. Broadband services support economic development for the businesses of these small communities as well as provide high speed internet access in most homes. Main Street is launching its WiMax service in Waycross, Georgia.

Main Street Broadband is not new to providing rural broadband services. Currently the company is operating in several communities in south east Georgia through its acquisition of Coastal Broadband in 2008.

1. # #

   ABOUT MAIN STREET BROADBAND – Main Street Broadband LLC is a privately held wireless broadband service provider headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Together with its subsidiary, Broadband South LLC, Main Street is committed to bringing affordable high speed internet access and digital phone service to the un-served and underserved markets in the southeast US. Main Street Broadband utilizes the latest in wireless broadband technology for both residential and business services to develop additional economic opportunities in the communities and advance the quality of life for its residents.

   • 

Below are tweet posts from @meitweet in attendance during #cs09 conference at a session panel on government’s role in broadband progression.

Congressional Chairman Boucher just beginning his remarks. #cs09

Boucher gives props to cable for passing 92% of homes with BB, but urges industry to use stimulus funds to connect the unconnected. #cs09 


Boucher: small cable companies have used RUS grants and loans to connect small, remote communities. #cs09 


Boucher: bill to protect reporters and ensure access to information. #cs09 


Blair Levin, Julie Veach of FCC, Larry Atlas of NTIA, and Ken Kuchno of RUS. #cs09 


Kuchno: we didn’t have many rules for distributing ARRA $. Atlas: we’re tasked with creating a variery of competitive grant programs. #cs09 


Veach: we don’t have any money to give away. Can I go now? 


Veach: NOI on national BB policy is very broad. #cs09 


Levin: President’s goal is use stimulus to ensure that the BB networks are approriate for the new economy, healthcare, environment. #cs09 


Atlas asked about how there approaching grant process. Atlas: want to create a well-rounded set of grants from a huge pool of apps. #cs09 


Kuchno: we can use 3% of $ for staffing, both internally and contracts. #cs09 


FCC adopted new data requirements for BB providers. Veach: much more granular info now, hoping to have a report out in coming months. #cs09 


Kuchno: if FCC gets data done in time, we wont reinvent the wheel. Atlas: will work with FCC to figure out best approach on best maps. #cs09 


Atlas: Notice of Funds Availability should be out before the end of June. Kuchno: ditto. We already have 7k comments filed! #cs09 


How to score applications? Levin: more people served, speed to market, maybe others. But precise algorithms prevent nec flexibility. #cs09 


Levin: need to prioritize waste, fraud and abuse, but it’s “a hard thing to score for.” perhaps “army of Wiki auditors” is necessary. #cs09 


Levin: #Obama is raising the likelihood of success by raising the cost of failure. [me: YUUUUS!] #cs09 


Veach: FCC will coordinate with other agencies re USF for broadband. #cs09 


Levin on non-discrim provision: I can’t find the meaning (or the $) in this issue. 98% of the conversation is hypothetical. #cs09 


Levin: unrelated, but it’s clear where the $ is in behavioral ads. #cs09 


NTIA and RUS still plan to do 3 rounds, not sure how they will split the $. #cs09 


Aspen Wireless Technologies is present in the Halls of the House for the Congressional Subcommittee Hearing on USF Reform.

Follow @wirelesscott on Twitter for real-time information from the event including statements and questions of the Congressional Telecom Sub-Committee’s members as well as testimony from the panelists.

UPDATE: Below are updates from @wirelesscott as broadcast in real-time via Twitter from the USF Reform Hearing (chronologically correct, start to finish):

###

At USF reform hearing at house energy I hope we can make this happen!!! Congress is very clear that USF needs to change.

USF reform to include public safety issues (e911 etc)... Thoughts?

FreePress says “make bold changes” in a 10year change to capital repayment and minor subsity model to save est’d 2/3 $

Tech policy institue fellow Scott walsten says do reverse auctions and make it a bid process for subsidy of least cost infrastructure option

Chairman Boucher asks how the $7.2B broadband stim can make it more feasible to deploy broadband. Has 1mbps minimum REQUIRED deploy get USF$

Boucher says thwre is an oversight committee for stim $ via ntia and USDA rus, also advising these committees / Administration support

Rep stearns from FL is sticking it to re telco, ya!!!

Rep Barton from Texas wants to repeal USF and calls it a snake that should be killed…

Rural areas cost $266mo to provide service as last resort carrier

Verizon believes that more granular USF (demographic) “mapping” below zip code level

Verizon says costs of middle mile are possibly driving cost greater than last mile ($100mo) in costs per customer

Verizon complains they can’t determine cost for wireless system costs per user… I call bullshit

Verizon and AT&T want competitive bidding (AT&T wants one-time capital awards)

Rep walden from Oregon made a joke about outhouses in this district and desirig flushing… The crowd laughs heartily.

Rep Weiner New York wants competition foe real and competitive bids with multiple winners. He is asking great questions

Rep Terry from Nebraska wants accountability

Rep Rush from Illinois is concerned over the costs from telephony to incarcerated persons, Chair Boucher agrees

He also asks if broadband is required just like electricity and water. The board unanimously agrees, the economist wants healthcare first

Rep Shimkus asks about wireless broadband for inclusion. The board says yes but asks to segment the two in compensation and minimum speeds

Questions about reliability of audit processes and costs by all, but the telco thinks they get the short end of the stick

Rep Butterfield north carolima asks about subsidizing services or devices for low income. Panel believes not from usf but important issue

Adjourned!

Just had excellent 1:1 meeting with Rep Walden of Oregon…

###

END POSTS @wirelesscott, begin tweets by @meitweet from a session panel at The Cable Show 2009 #CS09

###

Roger Sherman: House commerce committee will move other items first. Expect subcomm to look at SHVIRA, ICANN, USF. #cs09

Rosenworcel: will be looking at future of media writ large, DTV oversight, BTOP oversight. #cs09 


Timing for Senate confirms for tech jobs: Rosenworcel and Kurth agree, “we hope it’s soon.” #cs09 


Fried: broadband maps won’t be completed, but we’d like to see money go to “mapped” states first. #cs09 


Sherman: confident that NTIA and RUS are doing the right thing, trusting the regulators. Rosenworcel: senate planning hearings, ... #cs09 


Rosenworcel: ... See BTOP as a “down payment on our broadband future.” #cs09 


Sherman: OneEconomy will be at hearing tomorrow; they have great ideas on sustainable programs. #cs09 


Hearings on privacy? Bill? Fried and Sherman agree that nothing is on schedule but issues include DPI, 1st v 3rd party, intent of use. #cs09 


Rosenworcel on privacy: hearings last yr made clear that companies want to monetize info and consumers aren’t sure how it’s being used #cs09 


Fried: shvira will likely include must carry and adjacent market carriage. #cs09 


Rosenworcel on shvira: also need to update statute for digital broadcast. #cs09 


Retrans consent: time for Congressional review? Fried: Barton is a strong opponent of must carry. The market works. #cs09 


Phone competition: VoIP interconnection is a roadblock. Does FCC have right to guarantee? Rosenworcel: need to focus on intercon. #cs09 


Rosenworcel: some state interconn actions are “disturbing,” hope FCC will step in. #cs09 


Kurth on VoIP: if FCC thinks it lacks authority, we’re happy to provide. #cs09 


Sherman: committee members agree that wieleine porting should be as seamless as wireless porting. #cs09 


Expanding USF for broadband? Rosenworcel: need to 1st rationalize the current system, especially high-cost fund. This is FCC’s job. #cs09 


Fried: should consider reverse auction. Sherman: waxman and others have asked about days collection on USF. #cs09 


Kurth: agree that fundamental reform must take place first. #cs09 


Randy May asking a question re reverse auction and NTIA. Fried: we’d like to see a process for bidding for stimulus grants. #cs09 


Rosenworcel: finally we’re having a more nuanced dialogue on broadband. Adoption is a problem, perhaps greater than access. #cs09 


Adam Thierer: potential for content regulation. Rosenworcel: TV is a powerful force for good and harm, Rockefeller is concerned. #cs09 


Carriage disputes. Fried believes it’s hard for government to step in. #cs09

1. END TWEETS ###

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.

Wireless Communication Association International (WCAI)
Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
WiMAX.com
WiMAX Forum

We are certified and so are our partners. Aspen Wireless Technologies is authorized to perform on government contracts and qualified to engineer and support many network components. Our company and team hold the following certifications:

• GSA
• OSHA
• Cisco
• Redline
• Aperto
• Airspan
• Orthogon

• Alvarion

For a decade our company has focused on making broadband work as a consulting firm specializing in all things broadband. The founders of Aspen Wireless have been featured on the cover of the Wall Street Journal, founded the Nation’s first National Broadband network, successful muni wireless networks, assisted in various Homeland Security deployments and served on the Obama Campaign Tech Policy Committee.

Press Coverage

– Wall Street Journal – San Jose Mercury News – Wired Magazine – USA Today – NPR – TechTV

Speaking Engagements

– WCA – PFF Aspen Summit – FCC Rural WISP Showcase – Broadband World – Datacenter Dynamics – Internet Telephony (TMC) – WISPCON – WiMAX World – Tech Policy Summit

Memberships and Associations

– WCAI – Wireless Communications Association International – TPI – Technology Policy Institute – PFF – Progress and Freedom Foundation – OSDV – Open Source Digital Voting Foundation – OEN – Oregon Entrepreneurs Network – GTA – Gorge Technology Alliance – P15 – Part 15.org – SAO – Software Association of Oregon – CUB – Citizens Utility Board of Oregon – MHCRC – Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Bureau Advisory Committee – ORTCC – Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council

Entrepreneurial Leadership

We are globally recognized as leaders and innovators in the broadband space, especially as it applies to wireless. Following is a brief history of some entrepreneurial ventures our personnel have undertaken:

National Broadband

$28M in private investment was raised in 2002 for this venture with strategic partners including; Wal-Mart, Intel, IBM, Microsoft, WilTel and others. The core network included 17,000 route-miles of 8Gbps optical fiber lines across 38 states, marrying the optical network at over 422 locations (40-mile intervals) with backhaul radios to provide Tier 1 bandwidth access and pricing in Tier 2 and 3 markets. As the “carrier’s carrier” NBB provided high-capacity “wireless fiber” backhaul to Rural Tier markets for a low metropolitan-like cost. As a broadband provider and enabler, NBB created the WISPartner wireless broadband wholesale partner program in addition to a retail offering.

Aspenwave

As one of the first wireless ISP’s in the world, Aspenwave was covered on the front page of the wall street journal for brining to light the possibilities of technology and wireless for broadband. As well, it also was the birthplace of wi-fi as a hotspot service and through its ubiquitous coverage of Aspen, also spurred municipal wireless. Those inspired by Aspenwave include; Bill Gurley, Sky Dayton, Michael Powell and more.

Internet service providers are the operational backbone of the future, the utility of the 21st century and beyond.

With literally every business relying heavily on technology and broadband to connect with and reach out to customers, the position of a service provider is a vital one. We understand the struggles and triumphs of providing high quality connection, managing infrastructure and providing affordable service and support to thousands of homes and businesses.

Whether you utilize fiber, wireless, cable or copper we have the expertise to help you. Maybe you’re consolidating resources after a rollup, refining your business model, looking for vc, loans and grants or looking to make a technology upgrade as you grow. We handle all the needs of service providers from business through technology, from concept through deployment.

We have been operators – we remember.
We helped 1,000 operators – we understand.
We pioneered national networks – we are confident.

... and we represent your needs as service providers and the broadband industry with our work in Washington D.C and involvement with leading policy groups and think-tanks.

There could be thousands of paragraphs written about being a service provider, but all you need to know is we understand and have the knowledge and expertise to handle all of your needs as a growing and evolving provider of the 21st century utility – broadband.

Contact us today!

Airspan has been a worldwide leader in broadband wireless since 1992, and their products have been deployed by more than 300 customers, in more than 100 countries. Airspan has one of the most comprehensive product and solution portfolios in the industry.

Airspan’s portfolio includes both Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) and Point-to-Point (PtP) products providing cost effective solutions to wide variety of applications. Today their products are being used in a great number of diverse applications ranging from delivering wireless DSL to homes, businesses and schools in urban and rural settings to providing communication solutions to the oil and transportation industries.

It’s not often that a solution comes along that can truly outperform others in the same category, but that is exactly the case with Orthogon Systems. Orthogon’s OS-Gemini and OS-Spectra point-to-point 5.8 GHz wireless Ethernet bridges work where other products do not. In fact, wherever point-to-point wireless is a candidate for Ethernet connectivity, Orthogon systems offer unique advantages.

Compared with alternative point-to-point wireless solutions, Orthogon systems are price competitive, faster to deploy and easier to use. At the same time, they offer more capacity, a higher level of link quality, over longer distances, while performing with significantly more spectral efficiency.

Redline Communications leads the industry in performance, ease of installation, and customer support. Their products provide reliable, cost-effective solutions for Ethernet, T1/E1, and converged IP and TDM transport for both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments. Backhaul, public access, and private network operator solutions are available for the licensed 3.5 GHz band, and the unlicensed 5.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands.

Redline’s core technical differentiation combines more than ten patented enhancements with current orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) implementations resulting in a state-of-the-art, cost-effective solution that will immediately give service providers momentum and a leadership role in deploying their broadband strategy.

Since its founding in 2000, DragonWave has achieved customer recognition for quality, innovation, and technical advances in delivering wireless point-to-point networks for the transport of data, voice and video communication systems. With 14 patents, DragonWave has developed significant intellectual property, which they continue to grow and protect.

DragonWave’s Industry leading AirPair backhaul allows service providers to offer ultra low latency native IP/Ethernet & legacy TDM (T1/E1) services for a wide variety of middle & last mile applications. DragonWave’s AirPair Product line provides a wide variety of industry leading options for Scalable Bandwidth Delivery, Network Management, Service Adaptation and Network Configurations.

Below you will find a list of events Aspen Wireless is attending or other industry events. Remember that typically most events occur in Spring and Fall, so there are times this calendar may be empty as we delete events passed.

The most famous recent example of Multi-Tenant Use (MTU) use of Broadband Wireless technology was to provide a high-profile residential building in New York City with a 1 Gigabit wireless link to the Internet and subsequent distribution of that very fast Internet connection to all the residents of the building. As New Yorkers would say “What’s not to like?”

While most other MTU buildings aren’t quite that demanding, it’s entirely feasible to bring that same level of connectivity – 1 Gbps links over a path of up to 1 mile (in increments – longer links can be built in 1 mile “hops”) to MTU’s that aren’t quite so high-profile as the example, where most of the residents of the building were millionaires. To the building’s residents, the very high speed Internet service was a very welcome amenity and a considerable differentiation from other buildings where the residents are forced to deal with cable or telephone companies for relatively slow (by comparison) Internet connections.

Aspen Wireless can assist MTU owners and management with not only the off-building links to the Internet (or equivalent private networks), but also the critical issue of distribution within the building including making use of existing wiring or installing new wiring, or the increasingly popular option of installing Wi-Fi systems throughout the building to provide tenants with Wi-Fi access, and forgoing the expense of adding internal wiring systems.

A burning issue in Healthcare is to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness by streamlining processes and increasing the use of Information Technology.

Broadband Wireless technology offers some help with the unique challenges of applying Information Technology to Healthcare.

One healthcare breakthrough is the conversion of X-Ray and other images to fully electronic delivery. Electronic display units have finally achieved sufficient resolution to be usable to view finely detailed images. But because of the detail, image files are very large and thus take a long time to transmit over typical data links; and suitably faster links are cost-prohibitive.

One solution to the problem of transmitting large images is to build a private Broadband Wireless network between a hospital or medical center and the buildings of related services nearby. Thus a doctor could examine images from a hospital’s imaging systems in his private practice office rather than physically visiting the hospital. The high speed Broadband Wireless links (speeds of 1 Gigabit per second, and faster, are easily achievable) can also support other Information services such as videoconferences, Voice Over Internet Protocol telephony to connect into a hospital’s Private Branch Exchange (PBX) telephone network, and much more.

Contact Aspen Wireless to learn more about how the unique capabilities and cost-effectiveness of Broadband Wireless technology meet Healthcare’s intense demands for cost-effectiveness and innovation.

Wireless technology in Public Safety applications has come a long way since some unknown law enforcement official said famously “You might be able to outrun my patrol car… but you can’t outrun my two way radio.”

Public safety’s use of wireless technology has evolved considerably from “mere” two way radio; use of Information Technology is now routine in the field, from using on-scene geographical databases during fire response, to chemical hazard databases, to distribution of images from security cameras of robbery suspects, and of course, much, much more.

While mobile data technologies such as as packet radio, CDPD, and most recently wireless telephony “3G” networks have helped link Public Safety units in the field to their resources, such solutions are often inadequate, or too costly for any but the most demanding applications.

Broadband Wireless networks owned and operated by Public Safety agencies are not only feasible, but surprisingly cost-effective and capable of meeting public safety requirements. Much as been written about the use of Wi-Fi networks for Public Safety, but there are Broadband Wireless systems that are far more capable, and secure, than Wi-Fi.

Aspen Wireless is qualified to discuss a large number of Broadband Wireless systems and technologies. For Federal Government agencies, Aspen Wireless has applied for its listing on the GSA schedule.

We were recently outspoken on the vital topic of smartgrids, broadband, spectrum and datatopic at the National SmartGrid conference in Spokane, WA where we identified the need for involvement in broadband and spectrum policy for the short-term goals for utilities implementing intelligence for the grid.

This agenda goes even further in our keynote address and respective smartgrid sessions at the DataCenter Dynamics conference in Washington D.C. where leaders from the EPA and DOE joined with the leaders from the datacenter industry to discuss both the needs of utilities in data storage and access as well as conservation for datacenters as a significant power consumer.

Utilities have long been the unglamorous but critical business that makes the telecom industry a youngster by comparison. Utilities are appropriately cautious when they consider the use of new technology. After all, they know how to make their respective services and products perform reliably and by simple comparison, much of what is happening in the rapidly changing broadband industry doesn’t meet a utility’s metric for “reliable”.

In the last few years, that situation has quietly changed – there are lessons learned and new technologies in broadband and wireless that can demonstrably and cost-effectively deliver reliable “Utility-grade” service. But there is a methodology for choosing and deploying reliable systems and services that we uniquely understand.

Our experienced team is here to help utilities understand, identify, design, and implement “Utility-reliable” smartgrid and help address the complexities and integration with broadband systems and datacenters. We understand the whole picture, trust us to help you navigate your utility into the 21st century.

Aperto Networks is a leading provider of WiMAX-class multiservice broadband wireless access systems for global markets. It was founded to provide a breakthrough solution to one of today’s critical network bottlenecks – limited availability of last mile broadband access to millions of prospective users worldwide.

Aperto’s PacketWave system provides a family of base stations, subscriber units and associated radios and antennas in 2.5, 3.5 and 5 GHz frequency bands for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments. Its scalable systems and patented technology support new wireless builds and complement existing wireline broadband access technology.

Copyright

Using the Aspen Wireless mark and other Aspen Wireless Technologies LLC., intellectual property such as logos, slogans, trade dress, and graphic symbols on packaging, products, or services requires express written permission from Aspen Wireless Technologies LLC. Use of confusingly similar or disparaging terms is a violation of our intellectual property rights. © 2005 Aspen Wireless Technologies LLC.

Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

It shocks most Americans to hear that there are still residents of the US (and Canada) that do not have a telephone and in fact cannot get a telephone line. Many… perhaps most of the residents that fit that description reside on Reservation Nations, and it’s appalling. While some strides have been made to provide at least basic telecommunications services on Reservation Nations, many residents of Reservation Nation remain completely unserved by telecommunications services.

Broadband Wireless is a superb fit for the unique requirements of providing to Reservation Nations:

• Not just BASIC telecommunications services, but ADVANCED telecommunications services – high speed Internet and multi-line telephony service through the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• Coverage of not just a select portion of a Reservation Nation such as a town, but coverage of an ENTIRE Reservation Nation and the ability to offer services to ALL residents of the Reservation Nation

• Cost-effective and affordable not just to a Reservation Nation with extensive financial resources or US Government subsidies, but the many Reservation Nations with much more modest financial resources

  Aspen Wireless can advise on suitable technologies, system architectures, and vendors, as well as assist in construction, training of local personnel in operating, maintaining, and extending the system, and the many other aspects of building a truly advanced Broadband Wireless telecommunications system.

  • 

In all phases of Homeland Security – prevention, monitoring, and response, effective communications is critical. Yet one of the most profound lessons of large-scale events of recent years is that current, conventional communications systems are simply not adequate to provide for the requirements of effective Homeland Security.

The solution from “the usual vendors” is that all that’s required is more money to build “more, and more of the same” systems. The solution from first response providers is that they need more spectrum to extend and enhance their existing systems. The solution from the wireless telephony companies is “just wait until we get our “3G” systems up and running.

Broadband Wireless systems are one fast-to-deploy, cost-effective solution to the evolving requirements of Homeland Security. For example, a Broadband Mobile Mesh Network can provide a scalable voice communications system at an Incident Site, with the network forming as fast as first response vehicles can arrive. Broadband Wireless offers unique capabilities:

• Embedding a monitoring package on key first response vehicles to monitor environmental conditions in the immediate area
• Using GPS, the PRECISE location of the Incident
• Multi-channel video from the Incident Site, including handheld units being relayed into the Mesh Network
• Flexible monitoring of any/all on-scene two way radio traffic, not just the traffic on wide-area two way radio systems

• All the services that high-speed Internet access enables such as access to critical information databases directly from the Incident Site

  As a technology-neutral and vendor-neutral Systems Integration comany, Aspen Wireless has access to a very wide variety of Broadband Wireless technologies, vendors, and capabilities it can combine into systems that can meet almost any Homeland Security communications requirement. We are in the process of applying for listing on the GSA Schedule.

  • 

It is a considerable understatement to say that when Enterprises lose access to their Intranets or the Internet, productivity plummets… if not halts completely.

Broadband Wireless is simply a tool to extend and enhance corporate Intranets and Internet access. From private high-bandwidth point-to-point links between campus buildings, to Broadband Access while mobile, to merely insuring business continuity with alternate-path connectivity to telecommunications providers, Broadband Wireless is a key tool for Enterprise Information Technology.

While Broadband Wireless can sometimes be as easy as “twenty minutes on the roof slapping up a radio”, Enterprises typically demand robust, reliable, and well-supported solutions for key systems. Aspen Wireless can help to evaluate the best types of Broadband Wireless technology for a particular Enterprise’s use and, if desired, manage the procurement, installation, and support for Enterprise Broadband Wireless.

• 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.

  • 

Over the last decade our company has focused on making broadband work as a professional broadband consulting firm specializing in all things broadband. Our team is world-renowned team recognized for our accomplishments in broadband. Depend on our methodologies and expertise to properly enable broadband technology for your initiative.

We identify with your industry, guaranteed. Inside is a comprehensive list of market verticals, each with a specific narrative describing the positive impact your business and economy. Whether you are providing ‘Megabits to the Masses’ or require kilobits of mission-critical data reach its destination, we have the experience and knowledge to springboard your initiative.

STIMULUS UPDATED

Our services for the grants and loan process include business and technology, market analysis, strategy, engineering, broadband mapping (census block), proposal vetting, RFP authoring/management, narratives and more. We’ve built a decade of trust and reputation on our professional services, trust us to navigate you to the goal.

Whether it’s broadband itself or applications like smartgrid, we posses deep knowledge of the nuances facing each aspect in business, technology and implementation. As a technology-neutral company, let us help you navigate the options, dispel the myths and come up with a sustainable and unique design plan for the future that meets the exact needs of your initiative.

Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership

“Aspen Wireless has been instrumental to our successful ARRA RUS bid in Round One! They are easy to work with and were a critical member of our grant application team. The results speak for themselves – Rivada was selected as one in 18 out of 2,200 RUS BIP/BTOP applicants Nationwide to proceed to the second phase and the first company in the Nation certified as 100% complete and qualified on its app to the US Dept of Agriculture.” ~Rob Needham SVP, Rivada Networks

Thank you for visiting us!

Please fill out the form below so that we can better understand the needs of your company. We will get in touch with you as quickly as possible.

As the world begins its migration to a digital economy, each vertical is affected by broadband and the applications that ride over it. Aspen Wireless is acutely aware of those applications and the marriage between the network’s reliability, security, scalability and the success of the application.

We identify with your industry, guaranteed. Below is a comprehensive list of market verticals, each with a specific narrative describing the positive impact your business and economy. Whether you are providing ‘Megabits to the Masses’ or require kilobits of mission-critical data reach its destination, we have the experience and knowledge to springboard your initiative.

Find your industry below and click to understand how we identify with your needs and will help you realize successful solutions.  We have experience in working with customers in each market vertical:

Aspen Wireless Networks has provided a wide range of services over the last decade for clients from business to technology and all areas in-between. Our pride comes from knowing that our deep knowledge and experience in the industry provides our clients long-term success and satisfaction with our services.
Our firm has worked with hundreds of broadband providers over the past decade, in addition to having been operators ourselves.

Services at a Glance

Over the past decade we have formed long and healthy relationships with trusted strategic partners, which allow us to offer the most comprehensive and integrated portfolio of services in the market.

Business Planning

Entity, Strategy, Partners, Growth, Uptake, Competition

Financial Modeling

CapEx, OpEx, Funding, Debt, Revenue, Growth, Risk

Grants and Loans

Strategy, Planning, Narratives, Assembly, Submission

Strategic Relations

Partners, Vendors, Verticals, Gov’t Associations

Systems Engineering

Fiber, Wireless, IP and RF Engineering, Infrastructure

Technology Sourcing

Intro Vendor Selection for Services and Technology

Systems Integration

Installation of Towers, Radios, Energy, etc and Testing

Managed Services

Internal vs External/Hybrid NOC and Billing Services

Ongoing Support

Ongoing Business and Technical Support

*** IMPORTANT STIMULUS NOTE ***

We work with Cities, Counties, States and Service Providers alike because the ARRA Broadband Stimulus, especially NTIA BTOP Grants, require effort from both sides to get your fair share.

USDA RUS BIP and NTIA BTOP Grants and Loans

We have a high success rate on loans submitted to USDA RUS where have been involved, with funding up to $34 million on a single loan. We hang out with the FCC, attended the NTIA meetings and have policy friends in Washington D.C. We offer all the services and expertise you need to invigorate your local economy or operation with ARRA Broadband Stimulus Funds via NTIA BTOP Grants and USDA RUS BIP Grants/Loans – and we realize what few others do, that up to $100 Billion in IT stimulus is available!
More on Loan and Grant Development »

Broadband Mapping

We have been providing broadband mapping, census mapping and RF mapping services for years down to the block level. We have access to data sets for cable, DSL and wireless (WISP) and cellular data in addition to broadband studies which allow us to provide highly accurate and compelling broadband mapping service. For many years we have been leaders in providing demographic overlays to ratify business plans and financial models, in addition to creating target customer maps and pre-qualifications. And all of this, down to the census block level.

Municipal Broadband

Our services include business technology analysis, strategy, feasibility/market studies, loan/grant proposals, proposal vetting. RFP authoring and management (for Municipalities) as well as RFP responses (for Service Providers). Our work has won bids for our clients against industry incumbents as well as awarded millions of dollars in USDA RUS loans and grants.
More on Grants, Loans and RFPs »

Business and Technology

Not only system and network engineering, business engineering. Nothing compares to real experience to ensure that paper engineering turns out as expected. We know the market, business factors, technology and future trends – let us validate your concept and “engineer” your business to success.
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Deployment and Integration

The resources poured into engineering your business and network demand to be deployed by skilled professionals. Allow our network of certified Systems Integrators to deploy your system professionally so it will serve as a solid foundation for your business.
More on Integration »

Training and Education

The learning curve is tough in the fast paced broadband market and there is no time to spare or reputation to stake on failure. We will train your executive staff as well as technical team with the knowledge necessary to succeed in the wireless space.
More on Education »

Ongoing Support

Stay ahead of the curve by having Aspen Wireless Technologies provide ongoing support for your system. Whether engaging our expertise after deployment, or with our Virtual Technology Officer (VTO) program – let us support your success and overcome hurdles.
More on Support »

Managed Services

We engineered and built a centralizing intelligence that provides all necessary functions for your system to keep it operating smoothly. This ‘command and control’ allows us to provide a managed service to compliment the VTO program and our world-class support.
More on Managed »

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.

Company Overview

For a decade our company has focused on making broadband work as a consulting firm specializing in all things broadband. The founders of Aspen Wireless have been featured on the cover of the Wall Street Journal, founded the Nation’s first National Broadband network, successful muni wireless networks, assisted in various Homeland Security deployments and served on the Obama Campaign Tech Policy Committee.

Aspen Wireless Networks has provided a wide range of services over the last decade for clients from business to technology and all areas in-between. Our pride comes from knowing that our deep knowledge and experience in the industry provides our clients long-term success and satisfaction with our services. Our firm has worked with hundreds of broadband providers over the past decade, in addition to having been operators ourselves.

No matter the business model, technology or regulation we are absolutely committed to success in meeting our client’s needs. Our deep knowledge coupled with our experience with a wide range of broadband transport and applications provides you a significant edge. Whether you are providing ‘Megabits to the Masses’ or require kilobits of mission-critical data reach its destination, we will provide successful and proven consulting services guaranteed to springboard success in your initiative.

Press Coverage

– Wall Street Journal – San Jose Mercury News – Wired Magazine – USA Today – NPR – TechTV

Speaking Engagements

– WCA – PFF Aspen Summit – FCC Rural WISP Showcase – Broadband World – Datacenter Dynamics – Internet Telephony (TMC) – WISPCON – WiMAX World – Tech Policy Summit

Memberships and Associations

– WCAI – Wireless Communications Association International – TPI – Technology Policy Institute – PFF – Progress and Freedom Foundation – OSDV – Open Source Digital Voting Foundation – OEN – Oregon Entrepreneurs Network – GTA – Gorge Technology Alliance – P15 – Part 15.org – SAO – Software Association of Oregon – CUB – Citizens Utility Board of Oregon – MHCRC – Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Bureau Advisory Committee – ORTCC – Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council

Industries Served

Find your industry below and click to understand how we identify with your needs and will help you realize solutions and success.

Service Provider »

Utility Company »

Education »

Healthcare »

Public Safety »

Municipalities»

Homeland Security »

Not Listed? We have you covered! See our extensive list »

Mission Statement

Provide immense value to our clients through our unique methodologies and broad range of expertise. Utilize our strengths of knowledge and insight to use technology to create true solutions. Approach business with integrity, be responsive to our clients needs and provide superior support as a partner in business.