[CUWiN] Questions regarding wireless networking assistance

[Ray Meredith]

Dear Sir or Madam:

I live far outside of your present coverage area: N. Duncan Rd., at the
Hensley/Duncan intersection, north-west of the Champaign city limits and
the I-57/I-74 intersection. I have tried to get service from DSL
providers as well as volo.net (the wireless Internet provider), but with
no success. Furthermore, it appears that is going to be a long time
before there is any high-speed service in this area.

I am surrounded by at least 20 other single-family homes, and there are
two developments within a mile of my location: one (approx. 12
single-family homes)about  about 1 mile south of my location, just off
of Duncan Rd; the other (approx. 15 single-family homes) about 1.5 miles
east of my location.

I am wondering if your organization can assist me in formulating an
approach for contacting my neighbors and suggesting a shared broadband
network. I have been told that I can get a T-1 connection run to my
house, but it isn't cheap. Hence my desire to share the costs with
neighbors. We have seven acres of land, which gives us a lot of
line-of-site possibilities to the neighbors and nearby developments.

I'm not in this for the money; I'd be very happy to set up a non-profit
organization, or to work through yours, in order to set up a community
wireless ISP set-up along the lines of a co-operative.

If you have any advice, are able to offer any assistance in this matter,
or can refer me to another organization that might be able to help, I
will do my best to see this effort through.

I look forward to your response. Please don't hesitate to ask for any
additional information that may aid you in determining if you are able
to offer any assistance in this matter.

Cordially,
Raymond Meredith