Thank you for your support of the WCA in 2011!

The WCA 2011 event year is officially over. We're taking a well-deserved break and will be back in 2012 with more great panels, speakers, and networking opportunities.

2011 was a banner year for the WCA. We extended our reach into the wireless eco-system by launching our Futures Special Interest Group, which will serve as our forward-looking "sandbox" for exploring new ideas and new SIGs. Interest in the communications side of Smart Grid continues to grow, and our Smart Grid SIG hosted an event at PARC which featured opening remarks from George Schulz, former U.S. Secretary of State. And of course the Silicon Valley's leadership in mobile apps was evident throughout the year as our Mobile SIG and LBS SIG continue to host more and more great events to an ever-expanding audience.

Our board members and SIG chairs were invited to speak and/or represent Silicon Valley's wireless industry at events hosted by the Churchill Club, Commonwealth Club, TiE, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, SV Entrepreneurs, ARRL, Clasma, Carnegie Mellon University, Santa Clara University, University of California, and California State University. One of our SIG chairs was invited to address the California State Legislature. We received and responded to numerous requests for connection from other organizations seeking to invite WCA supporters to appear at their events. Some of our people were affected by changes in the job market, but all of them were able to locate new employment -- a success which they attribute in whole or part to leveraging the contacts they've developed through working with the WCA.

Our successes would not have been possible without our volunteers, our sponsors, and your support. Thank you.

Best regards,

David T. Witkowski
President, Wireless Communications Alliance

Join us online at...

December 14th 2011

IEEE ComSocSCV
Silicon Valley Power's Smart Grid Network & Free WiFi in Santa Clara

We are experiencing another technology revolution and once again Silicon Valley has become the epicenter.

Fiber enables Santa Clara’s "Smart" Wireless WAN. Silicon Valley Power (SVP) currently owns and operates a 57-mile, four-ring, 144 fiber backbone that not only connects SCADA and substations for higher reliability, but it also connects over 2 dozen data centers and supports the communication needs of 16 commercial entities through its dark fiber leasing program. Early in its smart grid thinking, SVP realized that a highly capable wireless network that blanketed the city and backhauled over fiber would have value far beyond advanced "smart" metering. SVP then purchased a nearly-abandoned 802.11b/g SkyPilot system that covered part of Santa Clara and was able to prove the ability to communicate securely with a multitude of devices in the field. SVP is now ready to replace the original Wi-Fi system with a serious, utility-grade, fiber-backhauled 802.11b/g/n Tropos system that covers the entire City of Santa Clara . This has us all thinking about how this approach enables the future for our utility, the city and the community. From dark fiber leasing to free outdoor Wi-Fi, SVP takes "smart" to the next level.

Outdoor wireless networks for smart grid. IEEE ComSoc SCV's Wireless Program Director - Chari - will discuss smart grid communications requirements and the unique challenges those present for wide-area wireless networks (coverage, reliability, latency, QoS, etc.). He will also discuss how Tropos Networks is addressing those challenges in the context of an overall wireless system design that includes mesh with fiber backhaul as well as other wireless technology elements.

-- Larry Owens, Divison Manager of Customer Services and Marketing, Silicon Valley Power
-- Narashima Chari, Co-founder and CTO, Tropos Networks

After the presentations, the speakers will engage in a lively panel session with the moderator and the audience.

Admission is no charge for just the event. Cost is $5 if you want food & drink. Click here for Information and Directions.

• If you're like to link the WCA event calendar via RSS or iCal, use the feeds from our Google Calendar feed

• Academia admission policy: Faculty, staff and students with a valid ID card from high schools, colleges or universities will be admitted free to all regular 2011 WCA events! Simply present a valid campus ID at the registration desk. (This does not apply to events which don't offer a walk-in registration. Refer to the event details.)