Wisconsin Wireless Association: To hold education meeting

Contact: Jeff Roznowski jroznowski@wi.rr.com 414-258-0633

The Challenges Facing Rural Wireless Broadband

BROOKFIELD, WI — The Wisconsin Wireless Association (WiWA) will hold an educational business meeting on May 7, 2009, at the Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton Street in Madison, Wisconsin. The theme is, “The Challenges Facing Rural Wireless Broadband.” The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin State Senator Dale Schulz. Senator Schulz will discuss a new regional economic development effort called UBER (Universal Broadband for a Rural Region), a public private partnership that has a goal of making broadband internet service available to “the last mile” of rural Wisconsin. The meeting begins with networking at 9:30 a.m., with the business meeting starting at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch at noon.



Senator Schulz commented, “For many residents, wherever they live or work, broadband is a vital utility. Decades ago, government loans played a key role in achieving universal access to two other vital utilities, electricity and telephone. With or without stimulus dollars, the private and public sector need to get together to have a plan, a strategy, on how to reach the “last mile” areas that are currently un-served for broadband access.”

Also speaking will be Ken Schlager, PhD, PE, President of HierComm, who will talk about the technical issues surrounding rural broadband deployment, as well as the impact of the federal stimulus package. Mr. Schlager will lead a panel discussion with representatives of 3 wireless carriers with extensive operations in rural Wisconsin: Jim Lienau, Vice President of Engineering at Cellcom; Greg Selig, Senior Director of Operations and Engineering at Airadigm; and Grant Spellmeyer, Director of Regulatory Affairs at US Cellular.

You can register for the seminar and learn additional information at www.wisconsinwireless.org

The Wisconsin Wireless Association is a non profit professional association dedicated to being the voice of the wireless industry in the Badger State. WiWA has over 150 members, representing the creative talent and energy of wireless carriers, tower companies, network developers, and their supporting vendors. Its mission is to promote positive awareness about the wireless industry through education; to form and cultivate strong relationships between the members of the wireless industry; and to enhance the communities it serves.