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Viodi View Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n Current Issue<\/a>Down in Monterey<\/a>FCC – Listening and Leading<\/a>Digital Must-Carry & USDTV<\/a>Video Interview with Allison Dollar of ITA<\/a>Are New Technologies Ready for IPTV?<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Viodi View Subscribe<\/a> <\/p>\n Viodi Forums<\/strong>Club Viodi<\/a>Local Content<\/a><\/p>\n Multimedia Search <\/a><\/p>\n Viodi Workshops<\/strong>Local Content<\/a>Telco Video 101<\/a>Incremona Training<\/a><\/p>\n Industry<\/strong>Industry Calendar<\/a>Favorite Links<\/a><\/p>\n About Viodi<\/a>Contact<\/a>Biographies<\/a><\/p>\n Interested in Sponsoring the Viodi View? Send an email to: sponsor@viodi.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Please forward<\/strong> this free publication to anyone you know who is involved in some way with independent telephone companies. <\/p>\n Mission of the Viodi View:<\/strong><\/p>\n In this on-line publication, we share our analysis, opinions and direction on the interactive television news and views that we believe will be of interest and use to our friends associated directly or indirectly with independent telephone companies. For more information as to the various ways Viodi works with independent telephone companies, please go to http:\/\/www.viodi.com\/alliance\/<\/a><\/p>\n Disclaimer:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] and its associates used their best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, the Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.<\/p>\n All displayed trademarks, logos and service marks are the property of their respective owners. \u00a9 2005Viodi, LLC<\/a>. All Rights Reserved. Viodi View Newsletter – March 2nd, 2005 <\/strong><\/p>\n Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, California<\/strong> used to be on the forefront<\/strong> of everything cool and avant-garde. To some kids, like my wife Jane, California represented a land of sunny skies and endless summers. To adults, it meant career opportunities, an educational system that was the envy of the U.S. and a physical infrastructure that included a modern freeway system and canals that stretched from north to south. Unfortunately, those once vaunted investments in the future are now somewhat stuck in the past. <\/p>\n Down in Monterey<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Thus, it was heartening to be a part of California Telephone Association<\/strong>\u2019s Annual meeting in Monterey last week, where a diverse group discussed how to advance California\u2019s Telecom infrastructure to, once again, be the envy of the world. Margaret Felts<\/strong>, CTA\u2019s President, and her staff did an outstanding job of setting the agenda and selecting speakers who spoke to the theme of Telecom in the Year 2025<\/strong><\/em>. Click here<\/strong><\/a> to read why Steve Bryan<\/strong>, President of Pinnacles Telephone<\/strong>, called this, \u201cthe best telecom conference<\/strong> I have attended.\u201d <\/p>\n Independent Telcos<\/strong> \u2013 If you are going to next week\u2019s VON, you have to check out Dave Berstein\u2019s conference, Business Strategies for ILECs: The Quadruple Play?<\/strong><\/a> He has speakers from SureWest, Vermont Tel <\/strong>and Ringgold<\/strong> Telephone<\/strong> amongst others. To get a discount on registration, enter the following code dslp<\/strong> in the registration page<\/strong><\/a>. 5,000 people are expected to be at this year’s VON. <\/p>\n FCC \u2013 Listening and Leading<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Distance is dead! That was the clear message that came out of the FCC workshop that CTA organized in conjunction with their annual meeting. The combination of digital and software technologies is making wireless and broadband power line technologies viable alternatives to the traditional wired networks. Click here<\/strong><\/a> to see why I came away impressed with the FCC officials who led this workshop and their aggressive efforts to make telecommunications more affordable for everyone. <\/p>\n White Open Spaces<\/a> (pdf)<\/strong><\/p>\n Ed Thomas<\/strong>, the FCC\u2019s Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology<\/strong>, discussed an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making that is worth a close review. This NPRM proposes to use the \u201cwhite spaces\u201d between broadcast channels for unlicensed wireless applications. This could be of great benefit to independent telcos<\/strong> that are looking for wireless solutions with propagation characteristics that could be well suited for rural areas. Click here (pdf) <\/strong><\/a>to look at this NPRM. <\/p>\n Digital Must Carry & USDTV<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Regarding broadcasting and the broadcasting spectrum, in the last issue we touched upon the possible upside for independent telcos with regards to the recent ruling that stated that cable companies do not have to \u201cmust-carry<\/strong>\u201d broadcasters\u2019 digital signals. Of course, if Senator Stevens<\/strong>\u2019 has his way, digital must-carry and standards for cable indecency could be the law. In this issue<\/strong><\/a>, we look at the impact<\/strong> of services like USDTV<\/strong> on digital must-carry and the independent telco [must be a club viodi member to view].<\/p>\n Video Interview with Allison Dollar of ITA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the big challenges faced by independent telcos is figuring out ways to monetize their huge capital investment in the physical infrastructure required to carrry video, data and telephony services. Interactive Television<\/strong> has the potential to provide additional revenue <\/strong>to help amortize the investment in these networks. In this issue of the Viodi View, Allison Dollar<\/strong> of the Interactive Television Alliance<\/strong> has some good advice for telcos interested in adding ITV to their service mix. Thanks to Packet 8<\/a><\/strong> for providing the technology and service to power this video. <\/p>\n Click to see Video<\/a><\/p>\n Are New Technologies Ready for IPTV?<\/a> (pdf)<\/strong><\/p>\n A big challenge for other operators trying to deploy IPTV is the lack of standards and interoperability between network elements. Interoperability between different suppliers may be possible as long as they are in a particular eco-system, but go outside of that sphere and things may no longer work. In the following piece<\/strong><\/a>, Alan Weissberger poses some provocative questions that should be of interest to anyone looking at IPTV.<\/p>\n IPTV Training & More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The other element to a successful transition to new services is adequate training. Aligning all of the personality vectors <\/strong>in a company in the same direction<\/strong> is quite a challenge. Viodi has put together the Telco Video 101<\/a><\/strong> workshop for telcos that are considering adding video services. This workshop primarily provides an overview of the cable television business, along with alternatives approaches. The intent is to put everyone in a company on the same page<\/strong> when it comes to the business aspects of adding video to a independent telcos\u2019 offering. <\/p>\n I am pleased to announce that Viodi has partnered with Incremona Communications <\/strong>to offer their technical training courses<\/strong> to telcos that are Viodi View readers. Like the workshops produced by Viodi, Incremona Communications provides customized training<\/strong> at the customer\u2019s location. Their workshops cover the range of technologies from IPTV to TCP\/IP and Ethernet. Incremona provides technical training for a range of people from Managers to Technical Support people. Click here<\/strong><\/a> (pdf)<\/strong> to learn more about Incremona’s workshops and get an idea of why they came highly recommended from SureWest<\/strong>. To contact Incremona, please send an email to incremona@viodi.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n NCTC Update \u2013 More of the Same<\/strong><\/p>\n Seems like the rumors surrounding NCTC <\/strong>and potential policy changes were just that; rumors<\/strong>. Dan Mulvenon, VP of Public Relations for NCTC<\/strong> reports that, \u201cthe NCTC membership moratorium is officially over<\/strong>. There has been no change<\/strong> in the membership requirements that have been defined in our bylaws since NCTC’s inception twenty years ago. As we have always done we will thoroughly and carefully evaluate prospective members on a variety of business factors.\u201d<\/p>\n We are informing prospective members that the membership eligibility assessment process could take 90 days or longer. The one-time membership fee has also been changed and is now more reflective of the value of NCTC membership on today’s business climate and considerate of the actual time and resources involved in processing and educating new members.\u201d <\/p>\n The Korner: This Ain\u2019t Beans – the Music Video<\/strong><\/p>\n About six months ago, I was introduced to a song that reminded me of the Tennessee Bird Walk<\/strong><\/em>, by Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan. The Tennessee Bird Walk was a silly song about birds walking around in dirty underwear; just the sort of tune that an eight year old could enjoy. The harmonized vocals of Bill Fielding<\/strong> and his sister Jeanie <\/strong>and the light-hearted lyrics of This Ain\u2019t Beans<\/em><\/strong> immediately brought me back to my youth when I heard it late last year. <\/p>\n Roger Bindl<\/strong> brings the song to life in the music video<\/a><\/strong> that can be seen by clicking here. It may take a few minutes to load, but it is definitely worth the wait. Using some clever video editing and animation techniques, Roger\u2019s video is a perfect complement to Bill Fielding\u2019s words. Roger is setting an example<\/strong> for independent telcos to follow in the creation of local content. Roger now has two half hour shows worth of short clips that he has compiled for his local public access channel. His web site, www.hem.com<\/a>, is definitely worth a look if you want to see some content created in the heartland<\/strong>. <\/p>\n You will get a chance to meet Roger at the IP Video @ Supercomm <\/strong><\/a>show, where he will moderate the panel on local content. If you want to get the full CD of Bill\u2019s music, send me an email and I will forward it on to Bill. Bill has created liner notes that provide the interesting background and his inspirations for his unique music. <\/p>\n Next Article<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Viodi View Subscribe<\/strong><\/p>\n IP Video @ Supercomm Agenda<\/strong><\/p>\n Services – Is the future now?<\/a><\/p>\n It’s 2005 and content is still King<\/a><\/p>\n Grassroots content – Grow it locally<\/a><\/p>\n Success cases of Telco deployment of video and broadband services<\/a><\/p>\n The regulatory landscape for broadband – roundtable<\/a><\/p>\n Advertising – Content or clutter?<\/a><\/p>\n Practical uses of interactive television<\/a><\/p>\n The impact of the back-office on a successful rollout of broadband and video services<\/a><\/p>\n
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