[CWN-Summit] FCC to Rule on 3650-3700MHz Band -- Could be a Boon or Bane for Mesh Networking:

Sascha Meinrath sascha at ucimc.org
Mon Feb 28 23:18:02 CST 2005


Hi Everyone,

I've posted information on this (and 4 easy steps for what each of us can 
do) at:  www.saschameinrath.com

It will (literally) take you 5 minutes to help change national 
telecommunications policy.  We have 48 hours to get as many people to 
respond as possible.  Help spread the word.

--Sascha

P.S.  Here's the skinny (alas in html) for those who like their info in 
one place:

Last week I got the word from DC that FCC is about to rule on the prime 
spectrum located between the frequencies of 3650 and 3700MHz.  In a 
nutshell, the ruling may decide to open this frequency up for unlicensed 
use, <i>or</i> the FCC may decide to allow high-power, a type of licensed 
usage of these frequencies.

We've got until March 2, 2005 to send our comments to the FCC.  Luckily, I 
have the e-mail addresses of the counsels to the FCC commissioners who 
will be deciding this issue and who need to hear the grassroots' 
perspectives on things.  This is a chance for you to <i>directly</i> 
impact national telecommunications policy -- supporting mesh networking 
and community wireless development -- all in one fell swoop.  And it'll 
take you less than five minutes; <b>here's all you need to do in 4 easy 
steps</b>:

1.  Draft up an e-mail to the following five folks:
<ul>
  <li>Paul Margie paul.margie at fcc.gov
  <li>Barry Ohlson barry.ohlson at fcc.gov
  <li>Sheryl Wilkerson sheryl.wilkerson at fcc.gov
  <li>Jennifer Manner Jennifer.Manner at fcc.gov
  <li>Sam Feder Sam.feder at fcc.gov
  <li>Harold Feld hfeld at mediaaccess.org
</ul>

2. Ask the FCC (and these folks in particular) to:
<ul>
    A. Support and facilitate mesh networking;
    B. Not obstruct or jeapardize, in any way, the primary function in this band 
of low-power transmissions at the community level;
    C. Not establish a first-in-time, first-in-right site licensing regime for 
high-power in a so-called "unlicensed" frequency (which would set a horrendous 
precedent for the future of unlicensed).
</ul>

3.  Go to the <a href="http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi" 
target="blank">FCC's Comment Upload Page</a> and file your comment (the 
proceeding number is 04-151).

4.  Pass along this information -- we've got 48 hours to rally the troops.

<b>Want to read more background?</b> No problem -- just point your browser 
to: http://www.wetmachine.com/index.php/item/227 for more information on 
the proceeding and why is so vitally important for those of us who support 
wireless networking.

-- 
Sascha Meinrath
President                 *   Project Coordinator   *   Policy Analyst
Acorn Worker Collective  ***  CU Wireless Network  ***  Free Press
www.acorncollective.com   *   www.cuwireless.net    *   www.freepress.net




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