It was something that a panelist at the 2022 Independent Show said that led to a lunch discussion about the challenges of broadband mapping. The conversation turned to the impact of delays on a USDA ReConnect broadband project during a time of high inflation. Fortunately, the camera was nearby to make it easy for Viodi to document one operator’s challenge of expanding broadband to unserved households in South Dakota.
Navigating Rural Broadband Funding in a Sea of Uncertainty – #TIS22
“We actually saw a pretty sizable, almost 30% increase in prices for all of our equipment,” says Ross Petrick, GM & CEO of Garretson, South Dakota-based, Alliance Communications. At almost $7,700 per household (2020 figures) to cover 23.28 square miles and 413 households, the broadband business model does not make sense without some sort of support.
Inspiring Intrepreneurship at The Cable Center
Inspiring individuals to be entrepreneurs within an organization is one of the ways The Cable Center is helping move the telecom industry forward. Speaking at the 2022 Independent Show, The Cable Center President and CEO, Diane Christman, introduces Camilla Formica, who is The Cable Center’s newly appointed Chief Program Officer. In that role, Formica is helping lead their programs, such as the Intrapreneurship Academy, to help telecom organizations. recruit, develop, engage, and retain talent.
A Residential Gateway App Store & More
Containers – those packages of software that contain all the necessary elements to run in any environment – are often associated with the rise of the cloud. In this interview, filmed at Fiber Connect 2022, Craig Thomas discusses the Broadband Forum’s initiative to standardize software containerization on the residential gateway within the home. In a sense, the Broadband Forum’s efforts are about bringing cloud computing home.
Wireless Charging of the Autonomous Vehicle & More #SDC2022
Automated charging without the need for human intervention is a must-have for the eventual implementation of low-cost, shared, autonomous, electric mobility. InductEV is finding its initial commercial success with taxi and bus systems for both planned and opportunity charging. Charging along a given route allows for either smaller battery packs, longer range, and/or all-day routes (not having to spend hours in a charging depot).
Some Tweets and Short Thoughts
- @DougDawson_CCG does an excellent job explaining the nuance of #OpenAccess, #OpenAccessConduit, and #OpenAccessDarkFiber
- Is Apple/Globalstar going to have an alternative to last night’s SpaceX/T-Mobile announcement? Was last night’s announcement similar to Microsoft’s announcement of its first surface computer in 2007 (see this Viodi take on that idea)? Tim Farrar has some good insight in this Twitter thread unroll.
- Delivery drones appear to be more environmentally friendly than traditional delivery trucks, according to this summary. Coupled with faster delivery, this could be a big a double win for rural communities.
- “I’m so proud of what was achieved during my tenure. It’s been a great run and so pleased that the primary beneficiaries were the small and medium-sized providers of @ACAConnects,” writes Ross Lieberman on Twitter. Great run and best of luck in your new endeavor, Ross!
Independents Fiber & More at The Independent Show – #TIS22
The first statewide fiber network that brings together the fiber of independent local exchange carriers and electric cooperatives is how Rob Shema, soon-to-be-former CEO of CNI, describes Hoosier Net. Independents Fiber Network, a subsidiary of CNI, is one of the members. The model for Hoosier Net is the Ohio-based Independents Fiber Network in that it will stitch together the fiber of its members into a network that covers 90% of Indiana.
Shema provides his unique view of the Independent Show. It is the first time for Shema, former Chief Operating Officer of TIS co-producer, ACA Connects, to participate at this annual event as an attendee. Subsequent to our interview, altafiber announced that Rob will be joining them as Director – Government Affairs & Business Development. Congratulations Rob and continued success on your new journey.
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