Aspen Wireless News & Updates

State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Online Workshop

On July 24, 2009, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host an online workshop on its recently announced grant program to fund collection of state-level broadband data, as well as state-wide broadband mapping and planning. This initiative will provide consumers with better information on the broadband services available to them and inform efforts to increase broadband availability nationwide. The workshop is intended to present information and answer questions about the grant application process for potential applicants.
The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a competitive, merit-based matching grant program that implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). The Program will provide up to approximately $240 million in grants to assist states or their designees to develop state-specific data on the deployment levels and adoption rates of broadband services. These data, including publicly available state-wide broadband maps, will also be used to develop the comprehensive, interactive national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

The workshop will be recorded and made available online at  www.broadbandusa.gov. Grant applications for this program will be accepted through the online grants.gov system until August 14, 2009.

Pre-registration for the workshop is required and NTIA recommends registering no later than two hours in advance.  Potential applicants are invited to email questions about the grant program to  broadbandmapping@ntia.doc.gov in advance of the workshop.

Register for the Broadband Mapping Online Workshop, which will be held on July 24 at 1pm.

REGISTER FOR A SESSION:

Wed Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Thu Jul 9, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM PDT








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

- DEADLINE: August 14th

- MAPPING: Census Block Level

- DEFINITIONS: Rural, Remote, Underserved and Unserved

- ENGINEERING: Signoff over $1 Million

- E-FILING: Registration Req’s

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

ALL-IMPORTANT MAPPING

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

- Households, Population, Income, etc

- Define “Rural” and % of Rural

- Distance from Urban Markets

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

- Cross-referencing with existing databases

- Determine Unserved and Underserved

- Determine BTOP or BIP Eligibility

- Output in Map and Spreadsheet form

REAL STRATEGY

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

REAL HELP

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

- Business Planning

- Financial Modeling

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

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

- Grant/Loan Strategy + Narratives, Preparation and Assembly

- Project Management RFP Management / Proposal Vetting

REAL LEADERS

Fmr Obama Campaign Tech Policy Committee w/ Larry Strickling.

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

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

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

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

We provide comprehensive services ranging from business to technology.

We engineer financials and technology, integrating experience for results.

Customers range from CenturyTel to Walmart to hundreds of WISPs.


REGISTER FOR A SESSION NOW:

Wed Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Thu Jul 9, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM PDT

Broadband USA site now has active link to NOFA:

Link to NOFA (pdf download)

HIGHLIGHTS of the NOTICE OF FUNDS AVAILABILITY

Related downloads:

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

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

KEY POINTS

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

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

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

BTOP funds are available through 3 categories:

- Broadband Infrastructure

- Public Computer Centers

- Sustainable Broadband Adoption.

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

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

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

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

- $1.2billion for Last Mile Projects.

- $400M for grants Remote Area projects.*

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

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

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

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

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

Eligibility factors:

- 1) application;

- 2) completion w/2 yrs;

- 3) technical feasibility.

Nondiscrimination and Interconnection Obligations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The scoring criteria for BIP and BTOP:

- 1 Project Purpose;

- 2 Project Benefits;

- 3 Project Viability;

- 4 Project Budget and Sustainability.

As follows;

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

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

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

- Pts for demonstrating affordability and providing choice of provider.

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

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

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

- Project Viability (25 points).

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

- Disadvantaged small businesses (1 point).

- Project Budget and Sustainability (25 points).

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

Unserved area:

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

Underserved area:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTICE OF MEETING

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

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

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

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

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.

   • 

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.

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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.

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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

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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.
More on Engineering »

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.