SCTE® LiveLearning for Professionals Webinar™ Series: Fiddling with Fixed Wireless

But deploying FWA is much easier said than done because of geographical, spectrum, technical, regulatory, cost and other knotty obstacles. When does it pay for cablecos to go the FWA route? What conditions are the most favorable? What obstacles must be overcome? In this session, leading industry technologists will assess the pros and cons of FWA.

Speakers:
Alan Breznick, Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading
Alan covers the cable, fiber, broadband, and IP video markets for Heavy Reading. In particular, he tracks new cable, broadband, and video technologies and standards, such as DOCSIS 4.0, FTTP, DAA, XGS-PON, 10G EPON, streaming video, network virtualization, business services, Wi-Fi 6, and ATSC 3.0.

With a strong background in both business journalism and technology research, Alan has covered the cable, telecom, broadband, media, and consumer electronics markets as an editor and analyst for more than 30 years, including the past 17 years for Light and Heavy Reading. A New York City native, Alan is now based in Ontario, Canada.

Paul Rodrigues, SCTE Director, Field Education
Paul has over 30 years of experience in telecommunications and has worked for multiple industry leaders, including AT&T and Comcast. He joined the SCTE in 2017. He leads a team that designs, develops, and implements SCTE training programs and certifications. These programs leverage interactive technologies, including 3D simulations, eBooks, and games, to improve the learner experience and retention.
Throughout his career, Paul has had many positions in the industry, including Information Technology, Management, and Learning and Development. Before joining SCTE, he was a part of the Comcast University team as a Sr. Technical Trainer. He was responsible for developing and delivering training programs for multiple departments, including technical operations, leadership, sales, and workforce management.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology degree from Kean University. He is also a Certified Wireless Network Trainer for the CWNP and holds the CWS, CWT, CWNA, CWAP, CWISA, and CWDP certifications. His other certifications include the CompTIA Network +, Security +, Six Sigma, and the Comcast Sr. Trainer.

Matt Larsen, CEO, Vistabeam
Matt Larsen started deploying wireless broadband in 1999 and is experienced in the design of data networks, NOC operations, wireless deployments, voice over IP implementation, business development and overall management of ISP operations.

In 1995, Larsen was part of the volunteer group that launched FortNet, the first ISP in Fort Collins, Colorado. After moving to Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1997, he started Scottsbluff Networx, an ISP that provided competitive dialup Internet access in Western Nebraska and was the first non-ILEC to offer DSL service in Nebraska.  Frustrated with the incumbent bureaucracy, Matt turned to wireless as an alternate way to deliver broadband, bypassing the phone companies completely.

In November 2000, Larsen sold Scottsbluff Networx to Airwave Wireless, a company that held LMDS and cellular licenses for the Scottsbluff area. From November 2000 through October 2003, Larsen worked on ISP operations for Airwave, and concentrated on business development and the deployment of unlicensed wireless broadband systems.

October 2003, Larsen left Airwave to pursue opportunities in wireless broadband access and established Vistabeam. Vistabeam has deployed wireless broadband systems covering approximately 45,000 square miles across Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska.

Matt Larsen is one of the innovators in the wireless broadband industry, a founding board member and past President of WISPA, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association and a member of BITAG the Broadband Infrastructure Technology Advisory Group.  Matt has also been a speaker at WISPCON, ISPCON, EC-Expo, NARUC, FCC Wireless Broadband Access Task Force and Mountain Connect; received the 1999 Visionary Rising Star Award from the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce; received the WISP Consultant of the Year Award at the Spring 2004 WISPCON, received the WISPA Operator of the Year Award for 2010, Vistabeam was named Provider of the Year at the 2018 Mountain Connect Conference and was awarded a Cornerstone Award at the 2023 Broadband Communities Summit.

Jack S. Burton, Principal, Broadband Success Partners

Jack is a principal of Broadband Success Partners, a consultancy dedicated to addressing the technology and go-to-market needs of investors, service providers and vendors in commercial and residential broadband.  Prior to co-founding the group, Jack was Senior Director of Systems Engineering for Altice USA and Cablevision Systems.  Projects include Voice Over IP, Business Services, Access Networks, and Optical Transport.  Jack served as Chairman of the Cablelabs Packet Cable Certification Board 2011-2017, and has written for Broadband Library magazine, Broadbandband Technolgy Report, and LightReading. Jack was inducted into the Cable Pioneers in 2023. With prior posts at Lightpath, MTV Networks, Tribune/United, and Warner/Amex he has over 40 years of industry experience.

Jack holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  An aviation and ham radio enthusiast, he lives in Kings Park, NY.

Justin TerWee, Network Architect, Midco
Justin TerWee is a Network Architect for Midco, a Midwest MSO, with a focus on Fixed Wireless data delivery. He started his career in a small town of 600 people in Northern MN working tech support for a dial-up internet company. His first FWA installation was in 1998 delivering a truly blazing connection of 128kbps. Justin now designs FW networks capable of 10 times that speed and was one of the first to successfully deploy 100/20Mbps in production. His true passion is bringing high speed Internet access into more rural areas allowing people to choose where they work and live.

Bill Baker, Chief Executive Officer/Owner, Nextlink Internet
Bill Baker is the founding investor of Nextlink Internet in 2012 along with Danny Gilbert. After Danny passed away in 2013, Bill took a leading role in the business and has actively directed the Company’s operational and growth strategy since that time. Nextlink is recognized as one of the fastest growing rural internet service providers in the United States along with over 8,000 Google reviews at 4.9 stars.

Prior to joining Nextlink, Bill was a senior Partner in KPMG’s Deal Advisory practice where he assisted corporate and private equity clients with mergers and acquisitions. Bill also has served in management roles in small, high growth startups earlier in his career as well as a corporate development role in a Fortune 100 company. Due to his experience in transactions, Bill has frequently served as an expert witness in transaction related disputes. Currently, Bill sits on the boards of four for-profit companies and the advisory board for the Baylor University MBA program as well as serves as an ad hoc advisor to private equity firms evaluating potential acquisition targets.

Bill was a founding Director for Village of Hope Uganda, a not-for-profit charity working with former child soldiers in Northern Uganda where the Village of Hope has constructed a village in the countryside where over 400 children live, attend school and receive healthcare services.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance from Baylor University and is a licensed CPA in the state of Texas.