A highlight of the OPASTCO 2010 Summer Convention was the keynote speech of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. ViodiTV caught up with Chairman Genachowski after his speech and he elaborated on the importance of a robust broadband infrastructure to creating a vibrant rural economy, which in turn benefits the urban economy. We also briefly discussed the importance of community-based, telecommunications companies in the development of the rural broadband infrastructure. 

To read the full text of the speech he gave to OPASTCO, where he outlined the five principles for Universal Service Reform, please click here.  It is unfortunate, that he wasn't able to stay to hear the next panel at OPASTCO, which featured representatives from NTCA (National Telecommunications Cooperative Association), WTA (Western Telecom Alliance), MTA (Minnesota Telecom Alliance) and the TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) and was moderated by John Rose.  The common theme of the panel was that the industry needs to continue to work together to provide data and share its message to both the FCC, as well as legislators.   

The FRED Event, during the OPASTCO 2010 Summer Conference, is Monday, July 26th at 6:00pm at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Contact Melissa Korzuch for more information.

ViodiTV coverage at events is a sponsorship that keeps on going and going… Marketers talk about the "Long Tail" effects while ViodiTV has been creating tails with trails since the early 2000s. The videos posted on ViodiTV provide sponsor benefits that go beyond lips to an octagon file. ViodiTV posts are categorized, indexed, searchable, embedded on sponsor sites and optimized for search results across Google, Yahoo, YouTube, and beyond…"

Contact Roger  or Ken for more information on sponsorships and the benefits of sponsoring.

ViodiTV has provided exclusive video coverage of the OPASTCO events since 2006 and, in that time, we have interviewed and been inspired by leaders across a wide variety of fields. 2010 will be no exception, as the Convention features an excellent program with speakers who will motivate, educate and demonstrate techniques that will help independent telecommunications companies thrive in a broadband world. 

Watch the video above to see how ViodiTV provides a sort of living history of the OPASTCO events. This montage highlights ViodiTV at OPASTCO coverage over the years. The combination of audio and video captures memories that print and photos alone cannot match. The immediate feedback offered from viewers of the hotel channel is rewarding, but to be able to watch it years later is even more satisfying.

To learn more about OPASTCO and why their events are must-attend, please go to www.opastco.org. 

Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of ViodiTV's coverage of the 2010 OPASTCO Summer convention.  

Ken Pyle interviews Mike Volpe, HubSpot, on Inbound Marketing… What is it? Why Do It? How it will change your marketing plan.

Volpe suggest that marketers need to think like a publisher, instead of an advertiser. The implication is that companies need to be content producers, which is something consistent with what Viodi has been saying about telcos and why they should be involved in local content production. He stressed the importance of opening up your media to multiple social networking platforms.

Pamela White, of ANPI, provided a real-life example of how the techniques that Volpe recommended improved ANPI’s marketing efficiency. In a somewhat ironic twist, White and I met via cross-linking of Twitter accounts and the OPASTCO Tech and Marketing Symposium was the first opportunity we had to meet in person.

ViodiTV at OPASTCO is produced by Ken Pyle interview, Roger Bindl camera and video editor.

Michael Koons of Cisco discusses how service velocity is an increasingly important factor in a telco’s ability to remain competitive. He also talks of how the video headend is morphing into a video data center. Michael touched on these points and more as a keynote speaker at OPASTCO’s 2009 Tech and Marketing Symposium. ViodiTV is produced by Roger Bindl and Ken Pyle.

 One of the concerns that independent telco friends have expressed about applying for the broadband stimulus monies are the unknown rules that may be imposed upon them at a future date. Fears of the bean counter are justified, as many independent telcos have been through painful and costly USAC audits over the past couple of years. These audits have confirmed that the telcos are following the rules. Steve Meltzer of consulting firm John Staurulakis, Inc. explains, in this video interview filmed at OPASTCO’s Summer 2009 Convention, the importance of diligent record keeping to improve the process of the inevitable audit.

Ed Heuck, formerly of Hargray in South Carolina, and now with Graycliff Enterprises provides a unique perspective on the stimulus, given his current and former roles as an operator and someone building broadband networks for communications providers. As you will hear in the interview from the OPASTCO 2009 Summer Convention exhibit floor, the broadband stimulus has already had impacts on telco projects; impacts that might not be so obvious at a superficial level.  

Summer is a season of growth and OPASTCO is growing or evolving to an IP based association.  This video summarizes the various interviews and event coverage from OPASTCO’s 2009 Summer Conference. John Rose kicks off a season of change with follow on from Mark Gailey, a panel with CTIA and RUS, lifetime achievements and rural educational grants. Produced by Viodi LLC. Roger Bindl and Ken Pyle with support from HEM Productions.

NOTE: The above player above has the full complement of videos produced for OPASTCO’s 2009 summer conference. They will play consecutively or use the tab (the sideways triangle with the vertical bar on its right) to jump forward to the next video.

The Broadband Stimulus was a major topic of conversation at the Summer 2009 OPASTCO Convention and was the subject of a panel. ViodiTV caught up with one of the panelists David Villano, Assistant Administrator for Telecommunications Program – U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, who elaborated on the application process and how the process may continue to be somewhat dynamic. He emphasized that the focus of the first NOFA will be funding the middle-mile broadband projects, particularly those that are “shovel-ready”.