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Executive Summary

RESPONSE TO NTIA-RUS BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (BTOP) INITIATIVES
[Docket No. 090309298-9299-01]

The United States ranks a dismal 17th in the World in “true” Broadband deployments and services. Most of this can be attributed to ousted FCC Chair Kevin Martin and past White House administrations.

It is quite clear that Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties within the United States have desired their own broadband wireless infrastructures for their Citizenry, Businesses, Tourists, Local Governments, School Systems, Health Care Providers, Public Safety, First Responders and Low-Income Households, serving their Urban, Suburban and Rural Geographical Service Areas (GSA’s), since broadband Wi-Fi (802.11n) became tried and true in the marketplace.
 

This summary takes into account the abstract provided by the ARRA/NTIA/RUS and the issues presented during the BTOP public meetings and introduces unique and differentiating technologies, development, deployment and operating models to bridge the divide in lacks of performance in this marketplace.

The analysis will offer the NTIA, RUS (and the FCC) alternatives to fully exploit the synergies available between newer state-of-the-art broadband wireless technologies, the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, a.k.a Economic Stimulus Package), the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the formation of local Public/Private partnerships to forge the many opportunities that now present to empower our Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties to finally realize and fulfill upon mission critical broadband wireless infrastructures.
 

New broadband wireless technologies and available spectrum will allow Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties to build towards developing and deploying extremely cost-effective low-cost broadband wireless communications, networks, applications and services that will help them define their own broadband futures in all Urban, Suburban, and Rural markets within the United States.
 

The intent of this summary is to present ideas that will introduce creative solutions to benefit all Americans and Businesses and prevent Federal Government Officials, the FCC and the NTIA/RUS from following the flawed bureaucratic processes of the past and to capture as much “(broadband) bang-for-the- (taxpayer) buck” from BTOP as possible.

This creative, forward thinking approach towards implementing successful and sustainable technology and operating models in the new US broadband wireless arena is only compounded by the fact that it will not only introduce newer broadband wireless technology and infrastructures to Urban, Suburban and Rural markets but will relieve much of the onus that will be exacted upon Federal and State Departmental Officials and the NTIA/RUS to coordinate and implement sustainable and transparent BTOP programs.
 

As there is a total of $7.2 Billion available for BTOP through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, institutional and private sector monies must also be solicited to fortify flailing credit markets. The technology sector can help to accommodate this need as this is one market segment that will continue to thrive and help the United States and the World to recover from the current economic downturn.
 

Large private sector financial institutions and financial advisors have already expressed interest in migrating from traditional investment vehicles to specifically bolster investment in newer broadband infrastructures by providing matching funds that will conceivably bring available funds to $14.4 Billion to allocate for all Urban, Suburban and Rural markets.
 

It is also important to realize that BTOP program monies are going to improve upon the many programs that will be introduced by ARRA as a whole (outside of BTOP). Broadband wireless infrastructures will directly affect the success and sustainability of these ARRA programs.
 

We have reached an initiatory pinnacle as far as technology, vehicles and instruments to deliver broadband communications and services and it comes down to proper wireless spectrum allocation, availability and usage, satellite services, and ongoing improvement in technology using these assets. The fact that we no longer need hard line or hard wired Telecom or Cable Company incumbents to deliver these services is a blessing in disguise to Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties in all Urban, Suburban, and Rural markets within the United States.
 

Large incumbents, such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Clearwire, Comcast, Time Warner, etc., have been lobbying and strategizing to monopolize these new wireless spectrums and markets. There is absolutely no room for these large incumbents, acting as middle men, to offer the core broadband communications and wireless infrastructures to our Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties and compete to pull every dollar possible from these cash-starved entities.
 

We will look to large incumbents to provide enhanced services through their new wireless networks (and we will want those enhanced services). It is important however that Communities, Municipalities, Cities and Counties implement the technology and spectrum available to build out their own broadband wireless infrastructures for their Urban, Suburban and Rural markets (their asset), generate revenue from those infrastructures, and build towards their own broadband futures.
 

So many markets in the USA only provide two choices for broadband… cable or DSL from large incumbents or resellers of large incumbent services. These incumbents are now flailing to maintain their customer base and most Americans need to know that service levels and speeds are only as good as the copper (cable or phone line) that is coming into their homes or business.
 

It is time Americans had a choice. A choice between large incumbents and local wireless broadband service providers; a choice between supporting our local economy by using these local providers and opting to receive enhanced services form large incumbents; a choice between building a self sustaining community or one monopolized by greedy, large incumbents. With the “change” that President Obama is promising there must also be the choices that all Americans can make to implement that change and improve their quality of life.
 

This summary will address all of these aforementioned issues, along with explaining and defining the roles (both past and future) of large Telecom and Cable incumbents, Private Sector investment, and help to establish new standards and overall fundamental improvements to existing broadband initiatives that will act as a catalyst to jumpstart a quick and sensible path to broadband excellence within the United States.

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