SCN: Re: Broadband (fwd)

[Doug Schuler]

I'm not trying to start another firestorm but I thought
people might be interested in what people at the La Plaza
(community network) orgnaization are doing in Taos, New 
Mexico.  (No, I don't know how they can provide this type
of service and stay non-profit.  There *must* be a way.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not advocating it [seriously]
but I am of the impression that it can be done [while
keeping in line with IRS rulings].)

-- Doug

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 14:08:04 -0600
From: Judith Pepper <jpepper at laplaza.org>
To: Andrew Michael Cohill <acohill at afcn.org>
Cc: members at afcn.org
Subject: Re: Broadband
Resent-Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 14:09:03 -0700
Resent-From: members at www.afcn.org
Resent-cc: recipient list not shown: ;

I agree with Andrew and some of the content of both articles re:
broadband.  La Plaza held a demonstration of wireless service and from our
small rural community, 78 people attended.  All want broadband and 20+
have "check in hand" waiting for the service to surface.

La Plaza is making this happen by collaborating with an existing company
that owns a 120 foot tower (required for line of sight purposes with some
of the mountainous terrain even in the boundaries of Taos proper), with
the Town Council Taos County Commission, and the Taos Business Alliance.
BreezeCom radios will be used that offer graduated speeds from 112Kbps,
256, 500, and T1 access.  This is both upload/download speeds and will be
available 24/7.
The monthly costs are respective to the speeds, $40.00, $75.00, $150,
$300.

I receive at least 5 calls a week from very interested folks who ask to be
placed on the list of prospective customers.  Once the logistics are
completed La Plaza will begin to offer wireless services to the community
inclusive of all sectors.
We currently provide T1 wireless to Town of Taos admin offices, library,
Taos Schools, Taos Hospital, and several businesses.  We also offer Tl
wireless over intense mountainous terrain to 2 small communities, one
south and one north of Taos.

The people who are most interested in the service are folks who have come
to our remote, rural area (aka paradise) from metropolitan areas. Many are
self-employed or a consultants to the national and international business
world.  They want to be able to send and receive documents in seconds
rather than hours over a dialup connection.

Once our business surfaces we will collect data descriptive of the end
users.  Then perhaps we can offer some insight into the value of broadband
wireless Internet connectivity.

To read about one of La Plaza's more adventurous wireless installs click
on
http://www.laplaza.org/about_lap/network/wirelessPresentation/Penasco%20Wireless%20Presentation%201-22_files/error.htm

adios,
judith pepper



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