ViodiTV

The Video Bridge Between the Heartland and Hollywood

Posts Tagged Broadband

Electric Grid Powering Broadband

Mar 10

Posted by Ken in ViodiTV @ MTA | No Comments


Talking about and understanding needs of utilities will be critical in order for telecom companies to be able to serve utilities in developing the so-called smart-grid. In this video interview, Randy Young, the Minnesota Telecom Alliance president, suggests that it is incumbent on telephone companies and their associations to proactively open discussions with electric utilities and make the case that it is more efficient for utilities to collaborate with telecom providers.

In this interview, he also gives ideas on what we will see concerning the future of telecom, particularly as it relates to rural telcos and broadband. He also stresses the challenges of continuing the important efforts of the MTA in the face of industry consolidation. 

Program sponsored by MTA Associate Members and HEM Productions

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The Transition to Broadband – The More Things Change…..

Dec 21

Posted by Ken in ViodiTV | 1 Comment


“Consumers are going to drive what applications are successful,” said Doug Wenzlaff of Solarus, in this video interview with Roger Bindl. Wenzlaff points out that one of the big changes in the telecom industry is that providers have had to shift from a culture of “build it and they will come” to one where the “customers build the services they want”. Wenzlaff points out that telecom companies need to build networks that are flexible enough to adapt to unforeseen customer-driven applications.

Wenzlaff describes how this philosophy is not much different than when Wood County Telephone, Solarus' former name, started its operation more than 100 years ago.  The focus on customers, service and improving community was the impetus for launching Wood County Telephone and those same motivations were behind its offering of video and broadband products more than 10 years ago.  In this video, Wenzlaff explains some of the lessons learned as they have transitioned to a broadband company and that they have enjoyed, "interesting times," this past decade.  

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Looking Down Under to Stay on Top of Broadband

May 5

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV @ NTCA, ViodiTV @ OPASTCO | 2 Comments


Australia is moving to a complete fiber to the premise architecture, according to Steve Klein of Allied Telesis.  In this video interview, Klein explains how broadband and IP are central to their plans.  He suggests that with the new administration, the U.S will soon see a national broadband policy that will most likely be centered on broadband and IP.  Watch the video for Steve’s insight as to what this means for service providers. 

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A Stimulating Conversation on the Broadband Stimulus

Mar 3

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV @ MTA | 1 Comment


A hot topic issue at the MTA Convention was the recently passed economic stimulus bill and the impact it will have on broadband deployments. After talking to a number of people at the MTA confab, the consensus about how the broadband stimulus is going to be managed seems to be, to paraphrase the Hollywood screenwriter William Goldman, “Nobody knows anything.” Alan Weissberger has a very interesting article that will soon be published on this topic. At the MTA, we caught up with Andy Brown of Bennet and Bennet who provided an excellent summary of the package and what the broadband stimulus could mean to independent telcos in this brief video interview.

 

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Independence Day Video

Jul 9

Posted by Ken Pyle in Viodi View, korner | No Comments


Whether staying close to home or traveling across the country, the point of July 4th is to remember the birth of our nation and the struggles of those early patriots.   Although, it isn’t Memorial or Veteran’s Day, Independence Day is also an appropriate time to remember those who gave and are continuing to give their blood and lives for our freedom.

It was somewhat ironic timing, when, a couple of weeks ago, Paul McKellips sent me the following video to give me an update on one of the many things he is doing. This video is produced by an organization he co-founded, No Greater Sacrifice.  

“No Greater Sacrifice (“NGS”) serves to bridge the educational development and professional mentoring gap for the children of our nation’s fallen heroes [armed forces and law enforcement officials]. Our job is to help finish their work by raising funds to pay for college tuition and graduate degree programs and to provide professional mentoring for their children. NGS accomplishes its mission by funding the charities that are already on the ground working on behalf of this noble cause…”  

This heart-wrenching video shows the impact this all volunteer organization has on the children of these fallen heroes. It shows the power of video and broadband, as more people have viewed the event online than were there in person.

To learn more about NSG and how you can help, click here

 

 

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High Fiber Diet

May 27

Posted by Roger in ViodiTV, ViodiTV @ WSTA | No Comments


The next two video interviews are a definite upgrade in terms of the on-air talent.  Dave Burstein of DSL Prime fills in for me as he interviews Steve Ross of Broadband Properties.  Ross prescribed a high fiber diet to reduce churn as well lay the groundwork for new services and increased economic development in rural areas.  He suggested that the current approaches to video are being commoditized and that telcos need to look for value-add services.

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Web 2.0 in Real Time – Part 2

Apr 10

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV | No Comments


Jay Cuthrell of fudge.org is broadcasting live from IP Possibilities using the ustream.tv service.  The cool thing is the panel he is part of is all about social media and using broadband to connect people.  Through extension, Viodi is broadcasting live from IP Possibilities.  In fact, I am going to send sent out an email to Club Viodi members to let them know. 

 

 

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Universal Broadband

Apr 9

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV, ViodiTV @ NTCA, ViodiTV @ OPASTCO | No Comments


In this brief interview given at the IP Possibilities Conference & Expo, John Rose, President of OPASTCO, talks of the concept of universal broadband. OPASTCO represents 500+ independent telecom operators, which primarily serve rural areas of the U.S. and Canada.  Rose suggests that broadband is not a one-size-fits-all service and, as such, operators will have to tailor services to meet the wants of their customers.

ViodiTV at IP Possibilities 2008 is being brought to you by Entone. Entone Logo

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Broadband Customer for Life

Apr 9

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV, ViodiTV @ NTCA, ViodiTV @ OPASTCO | No Comments


David Lewis of TCA , a prominent consulting firm to independent telcos, discusses the importance of broadband for an independent telco to retain its subscriber base.  He recommends that independent telcos find services to add value to the broadband pipe; before someone else does.

This program at IP Possibilities 2008 is brought to you by Entone.

ViodiTV at IP Possibilities 2008 is being brought to you by Entone. Entone Logo

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"The Face of OPASTCO"

Jan 18

Posted by Ken Pyle in ViodiTV, ViodiTV @ OPASTCO | No Comments


Brought to you by Innovative Systems

Brought to you by Innovative Systems

In this brief video, John Rose discusses the importance of broadband to the members of OPASTCO and their customers.  In his comments at the OPASTCO conference, Rose suggested that there probably would not be much near-term movement on USF and Inter-carrier Compensation policy.  He emphasized the need for educating Congress on the importance of broadband to rural America. 

He stressed that an often-overlooked aspect of broadband is that it is a moving target.  That is, although OPASTCO members have done a yeoman job of bringing broadband to north of 90% of their customers, the bandwidth needs are rapidly changing.  As a result, the operators’ investment in the network is never ending. 

The investment in networks and back offices are huge and OPASTCO is forming strategic relationships with companies, such as Microsoft, that can help its members reduce costs and add value-added features to add value to the broadband pipe.  He pointed out that OPASTCO’s customers are competing with companies in India and China.  He talked about the important role that OPASTCO has in helping rural communities remain competitive. 

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