FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

September 29, 2003 Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654

<Meribeth.Mccarrick@fcc.gov>

**FCC ANNOUNCES NEW DATE FOR RURAL WIRELESS ISP**

**SHOWCASE AND WORKSHOP TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003**

Washington D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission has rescheduled
its Rural Wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP) Showcase and Workshop
to be held at the Commission on November 4, 2003, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
This event is part of ongoing Commission efforts intended to facilitate
the deployment of broadband services to rural America. The event agenda
and further details are attached. This event was rescheduled from
September 18^th^ due to Hurricane Isabel.

[Background on Wireless ISPs]{.underline}

Wireless ISPs have been sprouting up across rural America providing
high-speed Internet access using both licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
Deploying networks which use grain silos, water towers, and pumping
stations as antenna sites, rural WISPs are beginning to bring broadband
service to previously unserved areas and to provide new competition in
areas that already have broadband access.

The Rural WISP Showcase will feature "virtual tours" of several WISPs,
discussions of technology, implementation issues, best practices, and
lessons learned. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for the
Commission to learn what, if any, regulatory barriers stand in the way
of rural WISP deployment. Presenters will be service providers who are
offering high-speed Internet service to their rural customers. The
Showcase will emphasize real world questions and practical solutions
with the goal of encouraging and enabling new, innovative, and economic
approaches to providing rural broadband.

Information concerning the Showcase, the including agenda, copies of
presentations, and bios of the speakers, will be available at the
Showcase webpage <http://www.fcc.gov/osp/rural-wisp.html>.

For further information please contact Robert Pepper, Chief, Policy
Development; email: WISPShowcase@fcc.gov; voice: 202-418-2030.

***Rural Wireless ISP\
Showcase and Workshop***

***Agenda***

*(subject to revision)*

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

Federal Communications Commission

445 12^th^ Street SW, Washington, DC

This full-day event is designed to facilitate information dissemination
about Rural WISPs as a compelling solution for rural broadband service.
It will also provide an opportunity for the Commission to learn what, if
any, regulatory barriers stand in the way of rural WISP deployment.

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **9:30    | **Welcome and Introduction**                             |
| AM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **9:40    | **Welcoming Remarks**                                    |
| AM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **10:00   | **Technologies and Architectures: WISP Nuts & Bolts**    |
| AM**      |                                                          |
|           | > WISP operators will describe their operations in rural |
|           | > America. These practical descriptions of technologies  |
|           | > and system configurations will illustrate the wide     |
|           | > variety of technologies and lessons learned,           |
|           | > including: arranging backbone connections; exploiting  |
|           | > technological advantages; and antenna sites necessary  |
|           | > to bring high-speed wireless to diverse geographic     |
|           | > environments.                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **11:15   | **WISP Implementation: Lessons Learned**                 |
| AM**      |                                                          |
|           | > Rural WISPs will describe what it takes to start their |
|           | > operations and lessons they have learned. Subjects     |
|           | > covered will include: network and operating costs;     |
|           | > customer acquisition and care; the value of            |
|           | > partnerships; raising capital; and working with local  |
|           | > officials.                                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **12:30   | **Lunch Break**                                          |
| PM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **1:30    | Workshop Panels                                          |
| PM**      |                                                          |
|           | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+  |
|           | | **Government    | **Applications  | **Technical and |  |
|           | | Funding**       | and Community   | Interference    |  |
|           | |                 | Building**      | Issues**        |  |
|           | | How can a rural |                 |                 |  |
|           | | WISP obtain     | A focus on how  | What are the    |  |
|           | | loans, grants,  | WISPs are       | FCC's rules,    |  |
|           | | guarantees, and | providing       | procedures and  |  |
|           | | start-up        | services and    | enforcement     |  |
|           | | assistance from | applications    | mechanisms      |  |
|           | | such agencies   | that help build | applicable to   |  |
|           | | as the Rural    | and enhance     | WISPs? What are |  |
|           | | Utilities       | rural           | the             |  |
|           | | Service of the  | communities.    | alternatives    |  |
|           | | Department of   | Examples will   | available,      |  |
|           | | Agriculture and | include how     | i.e., licensed  |  |
|           | | the Department  | WISPs are       | versus          |  |
|           | | of Commerce?    | providing       | unlicensed      |  |
|           | |                 | telemedicine,   | spectrum? How   |  |
|           | |                 | education, and  | can one solve   |  |
|           | |                 | other services  | interference    |  |
|           | |                 | in rural and    | issues?         |  |
|           | |                 | remote          |                 |  |
|           | |                 | communities.    |                 |  |
|           | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+  |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **2:15    | **Break**                                                |
| PM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **2:25    | **FCC Town Meeting**                                     |
| PM**      |                                                          |
|           | > An open forum opportunity for the FCC to hear how it   |
|           | > can help facilitate rural WISP broadband deployment    |
|           | > and services. The format will be Q&A.                  |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **3:20    | **Closing Remarks**                                      |
| PM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **3:30    | **Adjourn**                                              |
| PM**      |                                                          |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+

Additional Information

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Registration**                                                      |
|                                                                       |
| > The Rural Wireless ISP Showcase and Workshop is open to the public  |
| > and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at the Federal      |
| > Communications Commission in Washington, DC. There is no            |
| > registration fee and seating is made available on a first come,     |
| > first serve basis. Since a large attendance is expected, attendees  |
| > are invited to RSVP to WISPShowcase@fcc.gov to help us ensure that  |
| > we have sufficient facilities. Please indicate your name, who you   |
| > represent, your email address, and which afternoon Workshop Panel   |
| > you intend on attending.                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Facilities**                                                        |
|                                                                       |
| > The FCC is located at 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.     |
| > Directions and a map of the streets near the FCC is available at    |
| > http://www.fcc.gov/portalsmap.html. The Commission Meeting Room is  |
| > equipped with a Wi-Fi Internet network.                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Security**                                                          |
|                                                                       |
| > Please note that the FCC is a federal building with security. All   |
| > attendees will be required to pass through security. Please         |
| > allocate additional time to enter the building.                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Webcast**                                                           |
|                                                                       |
| > The Rural Wireless ISP Showcase will be webcast live and archived   |
| > for later viewing. During the afternoon Workshop Panels, only one   |
| > panel will be webcast live. The other sessions will be recorded and |
| > made available for later viewing. Access to and additional          |
| > information concerning the webcast is available at                  |
| > http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/.                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Reasonable Accommodations**                                         |
|                                                                       |
| > Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable   |
| > accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon      |
| > request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need   |
| > including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can      |
| > contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early |
| > as possible; please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last      |
| > minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.    |
| > Send an e-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer &           |
| > Governmental Affairs Bureau: For sign language interpreters, CART,  |
| > and other reasonable accommodations: 202-418-0530 (voice),          |
| > 202-418-0432 (tty). For accessible format materials (braille, large |
| > print, electronic files, and audio format): 202-418-0531 (voice),   |
| > 202-418-7365 (tty).                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **For More Information:**                                             |
|                                                                       |
| > Email: WISPShowcase@fcc.gov                                         |
| >                                                                     |
| > Phone: (202) 418-2030                                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

\-- FCC \--