Basic Nominee Information
Full Name	Tom DeReggi
Title/Position	President
Company Name	RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
City/State	Boyds, MD
Member Company Background
Are you a full-time employee at a WISPA member organization?	Yes
How many full-time staff are employed by your company?	4
Briefly describe your company's business (services offered, client base, areas of coverage).	Since year 2000, RapidDSL has been exclusively a WISP, serving a 30 mile radius around the Nation's Capitol. (MD, VA, DC). We serve both Commercial and residential, with a focus on high end business services. Offering plans from 1mbps-100mbps.
Professional Background
Do you hold a senior-level management position with your company?	Yes
How long have you held your current position?	7 years
How many years of experience do you have in the wireless Internet industry?	7 years
Describe your primary job responsibilities.	On a day to day basis, my primary job is Executive management, but as a small company operator, I must wear many hats. I am the primary investor, network designer, and strategic planner. I participate in Sales and Tech Support as required.
Individual Qualifications
Why do you want to become a member of the WISPA Board of Directors and what do you hope to achieve through your leadership experience?	It is my belief that WISPs' fight is not only at the FCC and in the competitive field of business activity. Our battle is also with legislators, to fight for fair competition and assistance for small business independant providers. This is not only important for consumers' well-being, but as well national security. In 2008, my goal as a WISPA board member is to strengthen its legislative lobby effort. The FCC can only make changes within the laws that Congress sets. New Laws are needed to protect our future in this industry. Often, others have had the goal to encourage broadband expansion to rural areas. It is my believe that this effort needs to be expanded to underserved areas, so that Urban/Suburban WISPs are not left out in the cold regarding representation. But more importantly, it is my opinion that WISPA's role is not to protect consumer's rights to Broadband, but instead to protect the rights of WISP operators to effectively serve consumers. I will continue to encourage WISPA's board to not loose focus of who we represent.
Please describe your experience and current involvement with WISPA, including participating on WISPA committees.	I am a current WISPA board member, second year. I have been active on WISPA Lsits since their start. I have participated on the promotions committee, and various FCC lobby efforts.
Please explain strengths that you possess that would be of particular benefit to WISPA through your service on the board (e.g. leadership, areas of specialty, industry relations, etc.)	The first benefit is my close proximity to Washington DC, making it easy for short notice, low cost visits, to key government personel. The second benefit is my grassroots background, as a self-starter independant small business entrepreneur. I have a story to tell, a case study to demonstrate, and a high level of personal sacrifice and commitment to Wireless Broadband, that gives me credability, worthy to represent WISPA's target membership.
Please describe any current or previous leadership experience with non-profit organizations and your role:	(no answer provided)
In your view, what are the biggest challenges facing the wireless internet industry, and how do you believe WISPA should address them?	The two biggest barrers are 1) Spectrum Saturation, and 2) Fair consideration to Finanical resources and incentives. Obviously to #1, the goal is to lobby for unlicensed or Light Licensed access to every possible new spectrum range comming available. TV White Spaces, being the most important focus. But for #2... As WISP grow, they will likely run out of the personal assets sizable enough to secure funding for their grow, without giving away stakes in their business. For this reason, we need to lobby for efforts that will maximize the benefit of every dollar a WISP spends. Most WISPs do not qualify for current governmental subsidee programs. We need Tax incentives, grants, and loan guarantees, designed specifically for the needs of small operators and those who invest in small operators. We need to lobby Congress for new laws and programs to give this, as well as encourage the competitive preasure between the states, to encourage states to offer programs via lcoal goerbement as well.