[chapter-delegates] Tsunami relief

[Gene Gaines]

We have talked, on this list, about some effort to
support the areas hit by the tsunami.

I have a thought.

The Wireless Communications Association (www.wcai.com)
has a substantial effort underway to provide relief
for the tsunami areas.  On January 13, about 50 people
from WCA member companies and relief organizations
met at breakfast to discuss what they might accomplish
and how to go about it.

Some of these people are donating funds, other stand
ready to donate wireless products and training.

Would some of our ISOC chapters in these area be interested
in making a joint effort?

WCA can raise the funds, obtain donated equipment,
provide training and technical personnel.

ISOC chapters can, working with their local governments
and NGOs in their country, decide on infrastructure
projects, select local people to be trained to install
and operate the donated equipment, carry on local oversight
for the length of the project.

To summarize, WCA members provide the donated equipment
and training to install it.  ISOC local chapters provide
the labor and local management to plan, install and
operate the equipment.

Personally, I still like the ideas of equipping schools and
their surrounding areas with free wireless broadband Internet
access, possibly also the area surrounding some local
government offices or town centers.

What do you think?

Gene Gaines
Washington DC Chapter of ISOC, USA



Background on the Wireless Communications Association:

I know Andrew Kreig, the president of WCA.  Olga Roweena
there is heading up their tsunami effort.  Excellent
people.  See www.wcai.com

WCA is a strong industry group, with a number of
already-operating task forces and committees, for example:

- Executive Committee
- Engineering Committee
- BWA (broadband wireless access) for Mobile Carriers
- License Exempt Alliance
- BRS/MDS 2.5 GHz WCA Leadership
- Personal Broadband Alliance
- FSO (free-space optical) Alliance
- Rural Broadband Task Force

WCA Board of Directors includes people from:

- Airspan Networks
- Intel Corporation
- TAHO Ltda
- Alvarion
- Motorola Canopy
- TeraGo Networks
- AMA•TechTel Communications
- Multidata Honduras
- TESSCO Technologies
- Aperto Networks
- Navini Networks
- W.A.T.C.H. TV
- Axcera
- NextNet Wireless, Inc.
- Wayne State University
- Clearwire Corporation
- Pegasus Communications
- George Mason University
- Redline Communications




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