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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 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 
 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. 
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 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  AM  Welcome  and  Introduction 
 9:  40  AM  Welcoming  Remarks 
 10:  00  AM  Technologies  and  Architectures:  WISP  Nuts  &  Bolts  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  AM  WISP  Implementation:  Lessons  Learned  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  PM  Lunch  Break  1:  30  PM  Workshop  Panels 

 Government  Funding 

 How  can  a  rural  WISP  obtain  loans,  grants, 
 guarantees,  and  start-  up  assistance  from  such 
 agencies  as  the  Rural  Utilities  Service  of  the 
 Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  Department  of 
 Commerce? 

 Applications  and  Community 
 Building 
 A  focus  on  how  WISPs  are  providing  services  and 
 applications  that  help  build  and  enhance  rural 
 communities.  Examples  will  include  how  WISPs  are 
 providing  telemedicine,  education,  and  other 
 services  in  rural  and  remote  communities. 

 Technical  and  Interference  Issues 
 What  are  the  FCCs  rules,  procedures  and  enforcement 
 mechanisms  applicable  to  WISPs?  What  are  the 
 alternatives  available,  i.  e.,  licensed  versus  unlicensed 
 spectrum?  How  can  one  solve  interference  issues? 
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 2:  15  PM  Break 
 2:  25  PM  FCC  Town  Meeting  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  PM  Closing  Remarks 
 3:  30  PM  Adjourn 

 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). 
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 For  More  Information:  Email:  WISPShowcase@  fcc.  gov 
 Phone:  (202)  418-  2030 

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