Here’s their statement on the subject: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOC/bulletins/3d56db2
> On Mar 6, 2025, at 8:27 AM, Mike Hammett <af...@ics-il.net> wrote: > > FUD is a powerful tool. I think people let their imaginations run wild when > they don't get their way. > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ken Hohhof" <khoh...@kwom.com> > To: "AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group" <af@af.afmug.com> > Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 6:35:58 PM > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] BEAD Fiber projects gone? > > > > > > Yes, that would be the logical and conventional conclusion, but in these > times, who knows? > > > > I was keeping my eye on the Verizon contract to upgrade the FAA/ATC network > with fiber. News sites were stating the FAA and the embedded DOGE boys were > going to cancel the Verizon contract and award it to Starlink instead. Logic > and convention would dictate there would be a procedure to cancel the Verizon > contract, pay for work done, then go through a whole new specification and > competitive bidding process. If that was not followed and the contract was > just handed to another vendor on a no-bid basis, then I would say all bets > are off for anything else including BEAR. > > > > However, those news reports seemed to be based on rumors and assumptions and > anonymous sources. I was not ready to believe them. > > > > Now it is being reported that all parties are saying Starlink is working with > L3Harris on a quick fix for the current outdated system and Verizon is cool > with it. Is this closer to the truth? Is it putting a pretty face on an ugly > story? Who knows. I hope it is, because the other version was kind of scary. > And honestly, I am willing to believe that fiber is the correct long term > solution for an air traffic control network, now matter how much I am > invested in wireless. > > > > > > From: AF <af-boun...@af.afmug.com> On Behalf Of Tushar Patel > Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 4:58 PM > To: af@af.afmug.com > Cc: af@af.afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] BEAD Fiber projects gone? > > > > I agree. > > > Tushar > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mar 5, 2025, at 3:52 PM, Tyson Burris < t...@franklinisp.net > wrote: > > > > > My argument would be that if they are going to open it up to technology > neutral services, which includes Starlink, Cellular Hotspots, and Fixed > unlicensed wireless to achieve the best outcome for the money then the whole > process has to be restarted. > > > > > > Because as it stands right now, bidding was based on exclusion of those > services as “underserved” which was half ass logic. > > > > > > > > > Tyson Burris, President > Internet Communications Inc. > 739 Commerce Dr. > Franklin, IN 46131 > > 317-738-0320 Daytime # > 317-412-1540 Cell/Direct # > Online: www.surfici.net > > > > VIA WIRELESS > > > > > > > > > On Mar 5, 2025, at 16:46, tpa...@ecpi.com wrote: > > > > > > > If the new language says that the state has to be “technology-neutral,” and > also that the state has to select the lowest-cost projects, which I thought > was selecting criteria, too. I would think more FWA projects will do well. > > We shall see. > > > > Thanks, > > Tushar > > > > > > > > From: AF < af-boun...@af.afmug.com > On Behalf Of Ken Hohhof > Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 3:25 PM > To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' < af@af.afmug.com > > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] BEAD Fiber projects gone? > > > > Unless they find a way to strongarm the states to give it all to Elon, I’m > not sure this is a huge change. I would expect states to still prefer fiber > if they got enough BEAD money to do it everywhere, or otherwise to lower the > cost point at which they use FWA or satellite until they have enough money to > go around. Seems like this is the way things were going anyway. I mean, if > you’re a state and the feds gave you $1 billion to spend, wouldn’t you spend > most of it on fiber except where fiber is really really difficult or > expensive? Unless there is pressure to get it done in 5 months instead of 5 > years. > > > > I would be shocked, shocked if all (or even most) fiber projects were gone. > > > > What I’d worry more about is that the money goes to satellite in preference > to FWA. Seems like BEAD money to FWA would build infrastructure, while the > way BEAD would subsidize satellite like Starlink would be to cover part of > the monthly cost for X many years, in other words not a long term solution. > Even if they found a way to fund launching new satellites, they only last 5 > years and have to be replaced. > > > > > > From: AF < af-boun...@af.afmug.com > On Behalf Of tpa...@ecpi.com > Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 3:12 PM > To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' < af@af.afmug.com > > Subject: [AFMUG] BEAD Fiber projects gone? > > > > https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/commerce-to-overhaul-internet-for-all-plan-expanding-starlink-funding-prospects-74664efc#comments_sector > > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > <image001.jpg> > > Tushar Patel > > tpa...@ecpi.com > > www.westernbroadband.com > > (512) 257-2733 > > > > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com > > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com > > > <image001.jpg> > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com > > > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
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