This fixed wireless broadband association was founded in February, 2001. A young pup, it's brimming with energy as it looks to help ISPs take to the airwaves.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Associate Editor [May 25, 2001]

Rick Haskin, President of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) was at work at his ISP business, Colby Online Services, in Colby, Kansas, but spared some time to talk about the association.

Officially founded in February of 2001, WISPA is very new. "We're all funding it out of our pockets, and we're working on a volunteer basis," said Haskin.

There is a board of six—three ISPs, a media director, vendor representative from YDI, and a manufacturing representative from Teletronics International. The webiste has four contributors—Marlon Schafer, Haskin, Allen Marsalis, and Todd Rittinger as WISPA technical director.

The association has about 50 members, including wireless ISPs, individuals, and vendors. The group plans to operate using funds obtained from dues and donations. It provides news updates and a discussion forum. The "members only" section will eventually provide equipment discounts from vendor members.

Unleash this puppy
The immediate goal of the group is to reach out to all the wireless broadband ISPs. Haskin estimates that there are about 3,000 in the U.S. right now, so the process of working together is just beginning.

The association has a presence at trade shows with the help of Media Director Tim Downs, of Broadband Wireless Magazine.

Shorecliff Communications, the publisher of the magazine, is also working with WISPA to design "how-to" workshops. The first set of workshops is called the "License-Free Wireless IP Workshop Series." The first workshop, "Intelligent Network Planning & Deployment," is now on a tour of six U.S. cities.

"We need to find out what our members want," said Haskin. The organization is examining hiring a lawyer to pursue advocacy in Washington, D.C., but that is expensive proposition and not an immediate goal. WISPA may begin mediating between members in disputes over the use of unlicensed frequencies, an ever more frequent problem as more and more ISPs try to provide services in the same 2.4GHz space.

Haskin and other Wireless ISPs (WISPs) are developing a brand name that would communicate the value of fixed wireless to residential customers.

"Wireless DSL" did not work for Haskin because DSL is not available in his area, and some who saw the advertisements thought his company was lying. "I got angry phone calls," said Haskin. "We hope to trademark something that any member can use. It would be another benefit of being a member."

Bottom line
The organization has just begun, but it has big plans. If you're going to a trade show or an industry meeting, you may meet the principals there.

What's the bottom line for WISPA? "We're registered as a non-profit. We're not going to be a business," said Haskin.

— End

Related articles:
	[May 24, 2001]	YDI Grows
	[May 23, 2001]	Mutual Assured Survival in the Commons
	[May 24, 2000]	Naming Fixed Wireless Broadband