The Viodi View » » The Korner

Slightly Off the Beaten Path

Ken Pyle — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:35:25 +0000

I remember clear as yesterday a conversation I had with an unassuming World War II veteran sometime in the late 1990s. We were at an Atlanta steakhouse during one of the many Supercomms (e.g. the predecessor to NXTcomm) in that fair city. He explained to me how he was part of a commissioning crew on a submarine that was towed from the Great Lakes through the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. This seemed like an odd bit of history, as submarines and the Midwest seemed like an oxymoron.

Fast-forward 10 years and I am speeding through the Eastern part of Wisconsin when I notice a sign for the Maritime Museum of Wisconsin. The picture of the submarine on the sign jolted my memory of that long ago conversation with Ralph. I had to make the detour off the Interstate to determine if this was where he began his submarine journey some six decades earlier.

As it turns out, the Manitowoc Shipbuilding facilities produced 28 submarines during the war. Overlooking the star of the Maritime Museum, the U.S.S. Cobia, are placards that list the names of the individuals who were part of the commissioning crews. Sure enough, I was able to find the late Ralph Hoeper’s name on one of the placards. Ralph survived his World War II experience and returned to build up Foresthill Telephone from a handful of lines to over 4,000 some six decades later.

Continuing to Bridge the Heartland and Hollywood

Ken Pyle — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:36:51 +0000

After 7+ years of going it alone, I have taken full plunge back into the Silicon Valley start-up culture by joining a company that is in stealth mode. Over time, I will be able to reveal more details. It is in the broadband television space, but its model is so unique that it really is creating a new space in the world of television.

One of the things that attracted me to this company was that they saw the value in the Viodi View and ViodiTV in helping to inform, connect and, hopefully, occasionally entertain the independent telco industry concerning the topic of video services. Thanks to the foundation this company brings, our plan is to enhance our coverage of industry events and provide increased value to the telco trade associations and their members. This relationship should give us a new channel for distributing the Viodi View and ViodiTV.

The plan is to continue as well as expand the coverage of independent telco tradeshows. Editorial control will still be by the individual authors. Our posts will still be a function of what we feel like writing at any given time and will cover what we think is relevant to independent telcos and their efforts to offer video.

Roger Bindl and/or partners, depending upon the specifics of a particular opportunity, will handle Viodi business efforts. I will forward on article opportunities, which may present potential conflicts of interest (although I don’t think there will be many), to Roger Bindl. That is it for now. Please continue to read/view the Viodi View and ViodiTV and I will provide updates as appropriate.

On the Road - Some Dream, Some Do

Ken Pyle — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:45:07 +0000

For a number of years, I have had a not-so-secret dream of organizing a ViodiTV across America tour. In this dream, Roger and I would travel with our families visiting independent telcos and filming and documenting stories from the heartland. Sponsors would support our efforts through things like banners on the sides of our respective recreational vehicles.

While I have been dreaming, some friends have been touring the country for real. Their reality is much bolder than my dream, as they are traveling both sponsor-free and job-free. About half way through a yearlong trip, they have proven to be adventurous beyond my dreams, as, for instance, they were in New Orleans this week for Mardi Gras. The most impressive thing about their excursion is they are home schooling of their grade-school children. You can read their story and see their pictures on their blog.

Independent telcos, email me to find out how this might be relevant to what you are doing.