# Presentation: 311714

## Wireless Internet In the Rural Environment

**Wireless Internet In the Rural Environment**

## Began in 1905 as The Farmers Co-op Telephone Company.
Began delivering wireless Cable TV over MMDS in 1989
Began delivering wireless Internet in 1999
Two-time WCA award winner (2002 & 2003) for delivering NLOS broadband wireless service to underserved markets

- Began in 1905 as The Farmers Co-op Telephone Company.
- Began delivering wireless Cable TV over MMDS in 1989
- Began delivering wireless Internet in 1999
- Two-time WCA award winner (2002 & 2003) for delivering NLOS broadband wireless service to underserved markets

- Who We Are and What We Do

## Technologies Currently Used

- _Technologies Currently Used_

- Phasecom Speed Demon (LOS)
-    -currently 450’ tower serving 30 mile radius
- Vyyo V3000 (LOS)
-    -currently 2 - 455’ towers serving 30 mile radius
- NextNet Expedience (NLOS)
-    -currently 7 sites – up to  20 mile radius
- Lucent Orinoco (NLOS)
-     -currently 1 site – up to 1 mile radius

## Items to cover today
Prospective site
Site survey
Market assessment
Equipment selection
Implement and deploy
Maintain and service

- _Items to cover today_
- Prospective site
- Site survey
- Market assessment
- Equipment selection
- Implement and deploy
- Maintain and service

- _Planning your Wireless Internet Site_

## Broadband internet availability in the area 
 None in area – Sites 1 & 2
Consumer interest 
Strong interest (Consumer, municipal, and business) – Sites 1 & 2
Site within MMDS BTA (License area) 
Yes – Within current MMDS BTA – Sites 1 & 2
Number of homes passed 
Acceptable >300 – Site 1
Backhaul requirements (T1 data support)
Able to support with wireless PtP system. – Site 1
Location for Transmit Station and Headend
Lease with local farmer for Site 1, lease with city water tower for Site 2

- Broadband internet availability in the area
-  *None in area – Sites 1 & 2*
- Consumer interest
*Strong interest (Consumer, municipal, and business) – Sites 1 & 2*
- Site within MMDS BTA (License area)
*Yes – Within current MMDS BTA – Sites 1 & 2*
- Number of homes passed
*Acceptable >300 – Site 1*
- Backhaul requirements (T1 data support)
*Able to support with wireless PtP system. – Site 1*
- Location for Transmit Station and Headend
*Lease with local farmer for Site 1, lease with city water tower for Site 2*

- _Prospective Sites_

## Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 700 – Site 1

- Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 700 – Site 1

## Backhaul Solution

- Utilize current PtP system to supply backhaul

- 5.8 GHz Western Multiplex 10Meg Radio

## Transmit and Headend Site

- _Transmit and Headend Site_

- 120° Sector Antenna

- Anytown, IA Headend

## Site Survey

- _Site Survey_

**Anytown, Iowa predicted RSS** **(Received Signal Strength), 70’ antenna height, 120o sector antenna**

- _Yellow         90%_
- _Red __	__     70%_
- _Light Blue    50%_
- _Green  __	__      1%_

_**Service Confidence Level**_

- Harvestore Site

## Non Line of Sight Equipment

- _Non Line of Sight Equipment_

## Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 228 – Site 2

- Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 228 – Site 2

## Line of Sight Equipment

- _Line of Sight Equipment_

## Lessons Learned

- _Lessons Learned_

- Must manage backhaul cost in rural setting
- Negotiate competative rates for fractionalized DS-3 connection point.
- PtP infrastructure.

## Lessons Learned (Continued)

- _Lessons Learned (Continued)_

- Develop Partnerships
- Faster deployment of services.
- Provides higher level of service to consumer.
- Sharing of costs and profits.
- Sharing infrastructures and ideas.
- Supports local economy.

## Conclusion

- _Conclusion_

- Wireless broadband internet is working for the Northwest Rural Iowa area.
- We are growing as an industry both in services and technology.
- We need FCC support to continue providing these services.
- Easier licensing & maintenance of MMDS spectrum.
- Cost of MMDS licensing in rural areas needs to be reflective to population.
- Working together to meet the needs of the rural community.