[Vision2020] Rural wireless?

[Mike Hall]

All,

 

First, I want to thank Chris for his kind words, but it must be pointed out
that it was his initiative to bring economic development to Latah County
that brought this to our attention.  Chris was instrumental in mobilizing
local resources and the various community leaders to pursue the Rural
Utilities Service opportunity.  As a result, service is now coming online
which will deliver high speed broadband access (at a fraction of the cost
for T-1’s, etc.) to those entities Chris mentions below as well as the
citizens in those communities.  

 

A few years back many of us met at the UI for a Smart Palouse conference and
discussed how to “bridge the “digital divide” in the region.  With the work
that has been accomplished thus far, we are well on our way.  And not just
in Latah County…First Step Internet has, since that meeting, deployed
wireless broadband in Garfield, Palouse, Genesee, Troy, Colton, Orofino,
Colfax, Orofino, Lewiston, Clarkston and of course, expanded service in
Moscow and Pullman.  Back then we were just getting started.  Of course,
along the way there have been great challenges, lots of investment and a
great deal of hard work.  Through this initiative, the ranks at First Step
Internet have grown to 45 employees, the vast majority of whom are technical
support, sysadmins, network installers, tower climbers, etc.  The funding
for this infrastructure, except for the grant recipient communities, has
come from the leadership of First Step Internet exclusively.  The vision and
drive to make these services available far and wide have come from the
leadership at First Step.  Indeed, as Chris mentions below, it takes a
multi-faceted partnership to make these visions a reality, which includes,
of course, you who choose to support and use the service.  When Bill said
that our commitment should not be questioned he did not mean that in the
sense that what we do is beyond question.  Instead, he was merely pointing
out that we have demonstrated our commitment to this community by our
actions, service and investment.  

 

Second, I feel I must respond to some of the discussion about First Step
Internet, Vision 20/20, service, bandwidth, etc.  Vision 20/20 is meant to
provide a digital version of a soapbox in Friendship Square for folks to
express their opinions, discuss issues affecting our community, etc.  Many
folks do just that, some folks abuse their freedom.  The list is
un-moderated and First Step Internet does not control or screen the content.
We merely provide the platform.  No group or viewpoint is thereby endorsed,
established, criticized, etc.  Any voice that chooses to make a statement
may do so.  Those who subscribe choose to listen or delete.  It was provided
in response to a request from the community and now must be responsibly
managed by the community by what and how opinions are stated.

 

As for bandwidth and capacity at First Step Internet, here is an update.  We
recently brought a new DS3 (45mbps) circuit online in Lewiston.  From our
headquarters in Moscow we have a new 100mbps, full duplex (100megs in both
directions), FCC licensed microwave link to Moscow Mountain.  From there we
have a 45mbps DS3, full duplex, FCC licensed microwave link to the Valley
Rim, and then another high speed link to our POP in the Valley.  Between the
two facilities we have redundant failover and load balancing in place so as
to increase available bandwidth and fault tolerance.  This is a pretty
exciting development and raises First Step Internet to the ranks of what
would be considered a tier two service provider.  

 

As for service and support, First Step Internet remains committed to
excellent technical support and continues to invest in the people and
resources to provide that service.  No technology is perfect, as has been
stated previously, but we continue to make the service work and resolve any
problems that arise.  Thanks to those of you who have chosen to use our
service.  We appreciate your support and partnership.  And stay tuned for
more developments to come…

 

Sincerely,

 

Mike Hall

Area Sales Manager 

First Step Internet

888-676-6377  Ext. 540

208-882-8869

HYPERLINK "mailto:mikech at fsr.com"mikech at fsr.com

HYPERLINK "http://www.fsr.com"http://www.fsr.com

   _____  

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Chris Storhok
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 9:30 AM
To: 'Tbertruss at aol.com'; tsaylor at tds.net; vision2020 at whale2.fsr.net;
vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Rural wireless?

 

All,

First Step, in conjunction with Latah County Rural Development Services
received three grants from the USDA Rural Utility Services
Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program for Bovill, Deary,
and Potlatch.  Under the terms of the grant the libraries, schools, city
halls/community centers, and Fire/Ambulance services are provided with
computers and other hardware to bring broad-band high speed internet service
to their operations.  Each community will have at least ten public access
computers that are free and easy to access.  First Step spent a lot of man
hours preparing the applications and was able to secure these grants from a
highly competitive grant program.  The backbone that will be installed will
provide a lot of rural residents with access to broadband services.  First
Step, and Latah County, should be congratulated for this effort as this
project demonstrates that government and business can cooperate to serve
each other's need.  First Step has been an extremely positive force for the
Latah County community and should be commended for their work and
dedication.

 

Chris Storhok    

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On
Behalf Of Tbertruss at aol.com
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 9:49 PM
To: tsaylor at tds.net; vision2020 at whale2.fsr.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Rural wireless?


Tom et. al.

Yes, well, I, at least, did respond to this development on V2020.  Satellite
Internet can be great, but expensive.  I suspect First Steps wireless high
speed Internet is cheaper than the satellite Internet options available.

As I wrote earlier on V2020:

I may become a First Step customer if they can provide high speed wireless
Internet beamed to my location in rural Latah County.  Apparently they are
working on this.

Ted Moffett 


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