PDQLink Wireless Technologies and Interference FCC Showcase November 4, 2003 Michael R. Anderson CIO/CTO PDQLink

PDQLink Progress Wireless Established 1998 – ISP Since 1994 – No Other Broadband Available Cable, Satellite, DSL Presently – 28 WiPOP Repeaters – 700+ Customers Coverage Area – Over 1000 Square Miles of Northern Rural Illinois – Only three small areas covered by “other” means of Broadband

PDQLink Progress Cont.

PDQLink’s Numbers Typical 57% Business Customers – 13 % SOHO Customers – 21 % Residential – 9 % School/Educational Facilities Infrastructure Costs – We Own Infrastructure – Sub $5k per WiPOP – Monthly Tower Rent – Bandwidth

PDQLink’s Numbers Typical Service Plans Residential (2.4Ghz) – Equipment Costs sub $500 – 128k to 384k ($40 to $90) SOHO (2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz) – Equipment Costs sub $500 to $750 – 128k to 512k ($65 to $160) Business (2.4Ghz or Usually 5.2 & 5.8Ghz) – Equipment Costs sub $500 to $750 – 256k to 512k ($160 to $275)

WISP Interference Issues Typical Unlicensed Interference Schools, Commercial Warehouses, Grocery Stores, Home LANs, Home/Business Security Systems, Cordless Phones, local governments Costs of Infrastructure Equipment Unlicensed is Affordable CPE $ Can and is Coming Down Tower Rental Mentality of Landlords Most want Cell Phone Rates No Interference Security

PDQLink Interference Issues Unlicensed 2.4Ghz Interference – Single Location – Over 50 Sources

PDQLink Interference Issues Unlicensed 2.4Ghz Interference – Neighborhood WISPs – Competition WISPs

Dummy WISPs Issues “Tim the Tool Man” – Wants to add Amp’s to overcome problems 2, 4 and 8 Watts Amps Easily Available Leases – No Easy Out for Interferences –Landlord rents to anyone willing to pay – Doesn’t Understand RF Basics Vertical vs. Horizontal Polarization Omni vs. Directional Fresnel Zone, Path Losses. – Lack of Proper Planning 20 Mile PtMP Coverage Expectations Other Players – Ultra-Secretive

PART-15.ORG Interference Arbitration Must Be License Exempt – Inexpensive to Court – Successful Party Has Full “Might” of PART-15.ORG Cooperation Among Resellers Additional Legal Support Additional Financial Support for Legal Assistance Bad Publicity Industry Support Typical Solutions – Expenditure on “better” equipment Sectionals vs. Omni’s – Usually Based on First Come Basis Second Party Must “Fit-In”

WISP Interference Alternatives Checklist Positively Determine Source of Interference –Spectrum Analyzer –NetStumbler, Poor-Man’s SA –Certified System? (Full ID of Equip, Photos) Contact –Phone – - Snail Mail – Lunch File Complaint with PART-15.ORG –Assigned Arbitrator –Civil Tort Filed

WISP Legal Alternatives Arbitration Least Expensive/Fastest Resolution FCC Last Resort Must Violate A Rule –EIRP Interference is NOT breaking any rules in itself –System Certification –Appropriate Documentation –Itemized List of Equipment –Photos –All Communications Records Civil Court Tortious Interference With a Contract Unfair Trade Practices Other Civil Litigation

WISP Needs Possible Alternatives More Solutions (manufacturers) For NLOS Issues Tighter Beamwidth Antenna would allow more power and less interference FCC Component Certification vs. System Certification EIRP Rules Increase Spectrum Other

Additional Recommendations Become WISP Friendly – FCC Ride-Along Programs or Open Houses – Easy to Use Website (e.g. System Certifications) – Public Information Dissemination Organizations About WISPs – PART-15.ORG (akin to ARRL) – Rural Broadband Federation (USDA/RUS Funding) – WCAI and LEA (Legislative Arm for the WISP) WISP Related Functions – WISPCONs – WCAI Conventions

PART-15.ORG WISP Professionalism Establishment of Industry Standards Interference Arbitration Professional Installer Program System Certification Lab – Radio, Antenna, Amp Same antenna, different labels WISPCONs – Semi-Annual – 100% WISP Related (meat and bones) Website – Everything you always wanted to know about WISPs –Single Source WISP information