The amazing Luisa Handem, from RuMBA, had me back on her "Rural America Radio" show this afternoon. I invited our technology and retail partner, SkyWay USA's CSO, Don Smith to join us and we had a wonderful conversation though it went by much too fast for me.

I seriously could have discussed this topic, especially the second round of ARRA funding and the difficulties in connecting this county's exceptionally rural communities, for at least 2 more hours. I really hope that we can come back soon.

I applaud Luisa for her dedication and passion for discussing this topic on her weekly online radio show.

Here's her web site with both a download (6.7 Mb) and a stream of today's show, see link below. Its the third tab on the left down. The one with today's date.

For more info: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/luisahandem

EchoStar Offers Satellite Communications for Haiti Relief Agencies

January 19, 2010

EchoStar News Advisory
Jan. 19, 2010

EchoStar Offers Satellite Communications for Haiti Relief Agencies

EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) and provider of satellite-related backhaul, aggregation and distribution of video, audio and data domestically and internationally, is donating satellite communications services to Haiti relief agencies following the disastrous earthquake. As part of its outreach, EchoStar notified the FCC about its intentions on Jan. 14.

EchoStar is offering Ku-band satellite bandwidth capacity onboard its EchoStar IX satellite located at 121 degrees W.L. Relief agencies seeking to establish an emergency channel or conduct satellite backhaul or uplink services should contact EchoStar’s Traffic Desk at 888-778-3728. EchoStar IX’s satellite beam covers the United States, including Haiti due to its close proximity.

Broadband Stimulus Still Overlooks 40M Households

So, by reading this report, are they saying there are 40M homes NOT passed by terrestrial broadband? After speaking with many service providers, P.U.C.s and other organizations in the CONUS, nobody really seems to know. What we all do know is, there are a lot of folks stuck on dial-up who need help here. Please call us to see how easy it is to add Broadband in a Box to your current high speed Internet offerings and never have to tell a prospect "NO, we do not serve your area", ever again.

Happy Holidays...

Regards,

Thomas William
Vice President of Partner Solutions
Broadband in a Box
1302 Clear Springs Trace
Louisville Kentucky 40223
(800) 761.9149 : office
(502) 426.2067 : local
(502) 263.9879 : my mobile
(502) 515.3710 : fax

email: tomw@bbinabox.com
web: www.bbinabox.com
skype: bbinabox
chat: broadbandinabox@gmail.com
icq: 562727303
blog: http://broadbandinabox.blogspot.com
network: http://linkedin.com/in/broadbandinabox
# # # #

New Study Finds $7.2B Not Nearly Enough

Kelly M. Teal
12/15/2009

The $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds isn’t nearly enough to bring high-speed Internet access to 49 percent of households in the United States.

That’s the word from a new report published by Insight Research Corp., which found that, in spite of increased adoption fueled by the broadband stimulus program, 40 million households still won’t have broadband options by the end of 2014.

Robert Rosenberg, president of Insight Research, said the Obama Administration understands the direct relationship between broadband access and America’s economic health. But, he added, “the current allocation of funds is just not going to get the job done.”

Spending $6.4 billion amounts to an investment of $164 per household to get broadband access to households that need it, Insight Research found. That small number “casts serious doubt that any significant expansion of broadband access will result from this government action,” Insight Research said in a press release. “This position is further bolstered by the argument that, at the current estimate of $1,500 per household, at least $60 billion would be needed to deploy universal broadband access.”

Part of the problem is a lot of people don’t have computers.

“Our analysis found that a substantial portion of the 49 percent without broadband had no computers in their homes,” Rosenberg said. “There is a chicken and egg problem here that needs to be considered by our policy makers.”

To that point, there may be some hope. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., last week introduced a bill that would reform the Universal Service Fund to help pay for low-income users’ monthly broadband access and even help those subscribers buy the necessary computer equipment.

In the meantime, the question of the broadband stimulus efficacy remains. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have yet to name recipients of the first round of grants and loans. All of the money must be distributed by Sept. 30, 2010.

Related Articles:
• Broadband Stimulus: Just One More Funding Round Slated

source

NOW AVAILABLE: SkyFinder AZ/EL Tool

For figuring out the Azimuth/Elevation (Az/El) for your customers, please go to:

http://skyfinder.swmodem.com

You will need to choose "AMC-15" from the drop-down menu and enter the Zip Code for the property that the dish is being installed.

If there is an obstacle in the path, it also has a handy "Height Tool" to help out.

Regards,

Thomas William
Vice President of Partner Solutions
Broadband in a Box
1302 Clear Springs Trace
Louisville Kentucky 40223
(800) 761.9149 : office
(502) 426.2067 : local
(502) 263.9879 : my mobile
(502) 515.3710 : fax

email: tomw@bbinabox.com
web: www.bbinabox.com
skype: bbinabox
chat: broadbandinabox@gmail.com
icq: 562727303
blog: http://broadbandinabox.blogspot.com
network: http://linkedin.com/in/broadbandinabox

Telephony Online article on our Solution (Sept. 2009)

We received a write-up from our good friend, Ed Gubbins at Telephony Magazine regarding our 1st CLEC deployment in West Virginia.

This time on their fantastic web site, check it out: Broadband in a Box wins first CLEC

For those readers who are link-challenged, I've created a photo of it which you can click on and read it up above^.

Thanks for Everything you all!

Regards,

Thomas William
Vice President of Partner Solutions
Broadband in a Box
1302 Clear Springs Trace
Louisville Kentucky 40223
(800) 761.9149 : office
(502) 426.2067 : local
(502) 263.9879 : my mobile
(502) 515.3710 : fax

:email:::::::::::::::::::::::: tomw@bbinabox.com
:web::::::::::::::::::::::::::: www.bbinabox.com
:skype::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: bbinabox
:chat::::::::::::::::: broadbandinabox@gmail.com
:icq:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 562727303
:blog::::::: http://broadbandinabox.blogspot.com
:network: http://linkedin.com/in/broadbandinabox

Speaking of that fine Telephony Online article, Broadband in a Box wins first CLEC:

It was just chosen as the Smart Brief Editors Pick of the Day!

A hearty congrats goes out to Ed Gubbins and the fine folks at FiberNet for making things happen and taking names in this 'depressed economy!

Regards,

Thomas-
800-761-9149 office
502-263-9879 mobile
tomw@bbinabox.com
www.bbinabox.com

I have supported 15 year olds and 75 year olds installing our system!

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

If you can't already tell, I love my job and this is the favorite part of it. I have worked with 1,000's of people in your exact position today. From 15 years old high school drama students, to 68 year old grandmothers, to 75 year old ex-marines named Carl who's 37 year old ex-marine neighbor trained as a radio technician gave up after 9 minutes and I convinced him to climb on his roof to tune in the signal himself.

Thank you again for your interest in our rural broadband solution. We look forward to hearing your test results and ultimately supporting your successful launch of services to your rural subscribers.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Oh, by the way, Carl found the signal himself in less than 10-minutes!!!

Tom-

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #