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The Invisible Factory Enabled by the PRTC FTTH Network – #SRCLIVE
Description: The focus of FOCUS is economic development in the five-county area that PRTC (The People’s Fiber Network) also serves with a state-of-the-art, all-fiber optic network. Thanks to that network, PRTC is recognized as an NTCA Smart Rural Community. This southeastern Kentucky-based non-profit and cooperative communications provider, respectively, “Envision Rural”, as FOCUS’ tagline indicates. That…
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Silver Star Gains a Broadband Gem in the Treasure Valley
Customers in the Boise metropolitan area, also known as the Treasure Valley, will soon have another option for symmetric gigabit and higher-speed connections to the Internet. Silver Star Communications’ acquisition of Cambridge Telephone Company’s Meridian, Idaho-based, CLEC operations, known as CTC Telecom (CTC), opens the western part of Idaho to this Wyoming-based provider. Silver Star…
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An Opening Conversation about a New Kind of Open Access Network
Jackson, Wyoming will soon be home to an open-access, fiber-to-the-home network (OAN) with a twist. What makes this network, SilverLight, unique is that is privately owned and operated, allowing the citizens of Jackson to receive the benefits of the OAN approach, without the risks of a publicly-built network. As background, the open-access last-mile broadband network…
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A Miracle League on the Home Field
[Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to the late Shawnie Ellis and the people he inspired to bring Challenger baseball to Moreland Little League. The positive impact of that effort, and efforts like what is described below, on the buddies, their coaches, and the families, last long beyond the baseball field. Those efforts add empathy…
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From Marine Biologist to Grassroots Spirit Award Winner – #TIS22
One would not expect a former marine biologist to win the 2022 ACA Connects Lyn Simpson Grassroots Spirit Award. But serving local communities, which is the essence of that important award, is in Marty Carollo’s blood. His grandfather brought cable television to his part of “The Equality State” in 1956 and Marty grew up in…
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From Broadband to Economic Development to Philanthropy & Beekeeping
What a pleasant surprise to see retired ACA Connects Chairman, Bob Gessner at the 2022 Independent Show. It was Matt Polka’s retirement that spurred Gessner to make the trip to Orlando. At TIS22 and in the above interview Gessner had some moving words about Matt and his 25 years as ACA Connects’ leader. Gessner has…
