Main Street Broadband Provides Proposal for SGRita Phase II - Rural Fixed Wireless Internet Initiative.

Main Street Broadband, in association with Digitel Wireless of Atlanta, Georgia and South Georgia Governmental Services Associates (SGGSA) of Thomasville, has submitted a proposal for consideration by the South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority (SGRita) for Phase II deployment and operation. Main Street Broadband has acquired Coastal Broadband, whose project managed the design, acquisition, installation and implementation of Phase I, including SGRita's 200 mile Wireless Backbone and connection to four (4) county school systems. That backbone connects these schools throughout the five (5) county area of Calhoun, Early, Miller, Baker and Mitchell counties in South Georgia today with the fastest Internet on the planet. Yes, the Miller County School IT Director, Jeffery Hatcher, was quoted in an SGRita Monthly Board Meeting as saying that "Our Miller County prior connection placed us in the bottom 1% in the nation as it related to Internet speed. Our new connection to the SGRita backbone places us in the top 5% in the world as it relates to Internet connection speed." Miller County, like the other schools, are 20 to 30 times faster today and able to participate in Distance Learning applications that were never possible in the past. Today Calhoun County works remotely with Thomasville across their Internet connection for these practices.

The funding for Phase I and other related engineering and oversight costs was provided via Bridge Grant from the One Georgia initiative started by Governor Purdue and managed directly by Mrs. Nancy Cobb. Now that Phase I, the backbone and school connectivity, is complete, SGRita has let an RFP to expand the Wireless Broadband Service to the homes, businesses and most importantly to the farms throughout the five (5) county area.

With Georgia and Florida under intense negotiations over water use, conserving water in the agricultural mecca that is Southwest Georgia is critical. So much so that the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, chaired by Mr. Marty Mclendon, has pledged $1 million toward the SGRita project for Phase II. With a wireless Internet connection at each irrigation system, the farmers will be able to work with technology partners like UGA - Stripling Irrigation and Ga Tech to acquire soil moisture probe data remotely and use that data to calculate the exact amount of water needed in each area of the field. This technology, in association with "variable speed irrigation", will reduce water usage in Southwest Georgia by hundreds of billions of gallons of water per growing seasons. The Flint River SWCD performed a pilot project as a proof of concept for this technology and its benefits over a 100 square mile pilot project, which was upgraded and managed by Coastal Broadband over a 2.5 year period. During that time, the water savings achieved through the use of this technology was staggering. David Reckford, Program Manager for the Flint River SWCD, has prepared numerous briefings for business and political leaders from the local level, throughout the State capital and on to Washington DC. The benefits of this technology have been well demonstrated and communicated. Articles have even been completed by USA Today, Newsweek Magazine and a host of others through association with the Nature Conservatory.

With the technology proven and the Fixed Wireless Licensed technology today to the point where it can be economically implemented over a large scale area, the SGRita Phase II project has the highest possibility for total success. The RFP review process is underway and Main Street Broadband is hopeful that their team will be blessed with the opportunity to serve the good folks in Southwest Georgia and beyond. The men, women and children of the economically deprived area throughout Southwest Georgia deserve the same basic utility services that the people have in the larger cities of Albany, Thomasville and Tifton.

Main Street Broadband was formed specifically to provide high speed fixed wireless Internet to unserved and underserved areas throughout the Southeastern US. Over the last 5 years, they have worked diligently and have obtained a $34 million Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services Loan Grant to serve 60 communities throughout this area. The first of theses cities will launch in February 2009 with the other communities coming online over the coming months and years. Through hard work and dedication, the dream became a vision and that vision became reality!! Look for a Main Street Broadband Tower near your home in the coming months.

Ronald E. Ham
Vice President of Operations
Main Street Broadband

Wireless Networks and Water Conservation

The below link leads you to a Yahoo News interview and associated article which does a great job of telling in 3.5 minutes what the state and federal governments have been trying to accomplish, in association with the local governments in South West Georgia, to conserve water. Coastal Broadband Inc. is proud to have been a part of the first network of its kind in the nation. You have to suffer through a 30 second advertisement but it is well worth it.

Flint River Video

To the right of the video are two links to other interviews and online articles that have been completed on our project. One was done by USA Today.

Coastal Broadband has managed this project from conception to implementation. It has been exciting and will certainly be a huge plus for the environment. Phase II which includes the Wireless Internet connection to the irrigation pivots and farm houses will launch in Q1-09. So stay tuned for more updates.

Ronald E. Ham
Coastal Broadband Inc. - President
www.coastalbb.com

Coastal Broadband Contracted for SGRita Phase II Project and Business Development

SGRita has contracted with Coastal Broadband to manage Phase II of their five (5) county Rural Fixed Wireless Internet service deployment. Now that Phase I is complete and the schools are online, we can begin work on Phase II. Coastal has already worked with other business partners to locate and acquire 2.5 licensed frequencies for SGRtia that will cover the vast majority of the five (5) county area. With these frequencies SGRita will be able to offer the fastest possible service at the most competitive price. The IT Directors at the Mitchell County Georgia school system and the Houston County Alabama school system should be commended for their support. They knew how valuable these licenses were and held out for the opportunity for the licenses to assist their respective communities.
Much more work is needed to complete the Phase II Project and Business Development Plan. With solid partners and sound experience like Coastal Broadband can provide, SGRita is well on their way to a successful project. None of this would be possible without Governor Purdue's One Georgia BRIDGE program and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation Districts dedication to agribusiness in these desolate South West Georgia communities.


Ronald E. Ham
Coastal Broadband Inc. - CEO

Coastal Broadband Completes Phase I of SGRita High Speed Wireless Backbone

Coastal Broadband has completed its Project Management and Development responsibilities for Phase I of the SGRita High Speed Wireless Backbone. During this phase, 10 schools in Miller, Baker, Calhoun and Early counties were connected to the SGRita network. These schools now enjoy connections to the Internet that put them in the top 1% in the Nation and top 5% in the world according, to Jeff Hatcher, IT Director at Miller County Schools. Andre Simmons was quoted as saying "You guys have made me a hero at my school." These schools have connections now that are 8 to 20 times faster than before. Two school systems have Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connections between their schools of 200 mbps per second. This makes applications at every school run as if the server were right next to you.

But Phase I is just the start. Phase II has launched and Coastal Broadband will be leading that project and the way to serving the five (5) county area with Rural Fixed High Speed Wireless Internet service. More on that later.

Senator Johnny Isakson

Coastal Broadband was recently asked to speak before US Senator Johnny Isakson on wireless broadband. Part of the presentation centered specifically on the 6-county $3.7 million wireless broadband project that Coastal Broadband is managing for Calhoun, Baker, Early, Miller, Mitchell and Seminole counties. Then the briefing / discussion turned specifically to pending reinstatement applications for 2.5 licenses that have been under consideration at the FCC for almost 2 years. Other conversations focused on the 3.65 frequency and how it can't possibly be the "savior for rural wireless broadband" that it was intended, as the propagation at current power levels does not present a viable business model in rural unserved or underserved markets. The Senator welcomes the opportunity to facilitate conversations between rural wireless broadband companies and the FCC.
Senator Johnny Isakson

The Senator is very supportive of Wireless Initiatives throughout his district and all of the United States. He provided testimonials were he has used wireless internet at government establishments around the world including Iran when visiting the troops. Senator Isakson went to great lengths to explain his support for the economic, scholastic and agricultural benefits that he knows broadband service will bring to his district.
These meetings continue to demonstrate that State and National leaders recognize Coastal Broadband as a Wireless Industry leader throughout Atlanta and Washington.

Ronald E. Ham
Coastal Broadband Inc. - President - CEO

Coastal Broadband Supports FFA

Coastal Broadband Inc is proud to be one of the sponsors that provided financial support for the new livestock trailer for the Brantley County Middle School Future Farmers of America (FFA). Led by Agriculture Teacher and FFA Adviser Krista Johns, the BCMS FFA is the largest Middle School FFA in the State of Georgia FFA Association. Recently the BCMS Middle School FFA Goat Team used the new trailer to transport several goats to the Sylvania Ogeechee Classic Goat Show. The team performed well bringing home many top three finishes in showmanship and meat goat competitions.

Coastal's support of the BCMS FFA further demonstrates their desire to provide support for the school children of Brantley County. Coastal has been proudly providing Wireless Internet and Wireless Wide Area Network Support for the Brantley County School Systems since 2002.

Ronald E. Ham
Coastal Broadband Inc. President - CEO

Congressman Sanford Bishop

Coastal Broadband was recently invited to speak before Congressman Sanford G. Bishop, Jr.. The Congressman is very supportive of Wireless Initiatives throughout his district. This briefing specifically centered on the 6-county Wireless Broadband project that Coastal Broadband is managing in Calhoun, Baker, Early, Miller, Mitchell and Seminole counties. The Congressman went to great lengths to explain his support for the economic, scholastic and agricultural benefits that he knows broadband service will bring to his district. Further meetings were discussed. Coastal Broadband has enlisted help from the Congressman's office to enter into further discussions with the FCC about licensed frequency legislation. His office has also been helpful with the monitoring progress on RUS loan / grant applications where Coastal Broadband has a defined interest.

These meetings continue to demonstrate that State and National leaders recognize Coastal Broadband as a Wireless Industry leader throughout Atlanta and Washington.

Ronald E. Ham
Coastal Broadband Inc. - President - CEO