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Viodi View Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n Current Issue<\/a>Fiber to the Dorm<\/a><\/p>\n Predicting the Future of Telcos<\/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 – August 17th, 2005 <\/strong> <\/p>\n In the previous issue of the Viodi View, we heard Ed Moura of SoHo Wireless<\/a><\/strong> discuss the idea that the Internet can be treated like a utility. He was suggesting that his apartment owner clients are offering free Internet (and soon telephone and cable) as a feature, similar to how they already provide free garbage, water and natural gas service. Although, their core product is clearly the brick and mortar apartment, these landlords are finding that they must add features<\/strong> in order to be competitive<\/strong>. Their competition is coming from not only from other apartments but from low-cost financing that makes homeownership possible.<\/p>\n Fiber to the Dorm<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n Moura is not alone in his thinking that the Internet will sometimes just be a feature on a bigger product. San Jose State University<\/strong> performed an interesting market survey<\/strong> that pointed to the importance of bundling communications services with living space as a competitive edge. This bundled product manifested itself in San Jose State\u2019s new state-of-the-art dormitories, known as the Campus Village<\/strong>. <\/p>\n To compete with off-site housing, basic levels of telephone, cable and Internet service are included<\/strong> in the cost of the dormitory<\/strong>. Click here<\/a><\/strong> for more details and to see a brief video<\/strong> about this fiber to the dorm project that has some interesting features, such as networked washing machines and dryers. <\/p>\n Cable Modem vs. DSL \u2013 What Does the Customer Think is Better?<\/strong><\/p>\n Are cable modems perceived to be superior to DSL? According to the San Jose State University web site<\/strong><\/a> promoting various Internet options for their Campus Village, the answer would be yes. The basic dormitory rent includes \u201cDSL-type Internet access.\u201d For an extra $30 per month, one can upgrade to a \u201cSilver Service\u201d and receive, amongst other features, \u201cCable-type Internet access.\u201d Ethernet speeds must be perceived as having the greatest value, however, as Ethernet is available as part of a $60 upgrade package. The point is that maybe a provider wants to start associating their high speed offering with Ethernet<\/strong>, since that seems to have the a higher perception than DSL or cable modems. <\/p>\n Predicting the Future of Telcos<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Packaging will be critical to the success of independent telcos moving forward as the competition spreads from the familiar to the unforeseen competitor<\/strong>. These unforeseen competitors will come from different industries, such as retail, media or software. This was the subject of a talk I gave a few weeks ago at the TSTCI Futures Retreat in Lake Tahoe, CA<\/strong>. <\/p>\n I was extremely honored to be one of four speakers at this annual event produced for the Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc by CHR Solutions. I felt quite a bit of pressure, as my talk followed Bob Treadway<\/strong>, a renowned futurist,<\/strong> who advises Fortune 500 companies, government and telcos as to how to plan for and develop strategy to address the future. Click here<\/a><\/strong> to the reads some of the gems provided by Treadway and Frank Gallagher<\/strong> of Investment Banker, Legg Mason<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Predict This!<\/strong> <\/p>\n Ok, so my future of being a futurist, like Bob Treadway, is probably not so good. Last February, I suggested that SBC purchase DISH<\/strong><\/a>. A week later SBC announced the AT&T deal. In the previous issue of the Viodi View<\/strong><\/a>, I suggested that Howard Stern could validate the TV over Internet market by bringing his VOD act to an Internet delivered television service venture. The next day, the Howard Stern-iNDEMAND deal<\/strong> was announced, whereby Stern\u2019s show will be offered as a Subscription Video on Demand product through traditional cable television means. <\/p>\n Either of these outcomes would probably have been expected had I been using Treadway\u2019s \u201ccone of uncertainty\u201d. I still believe the basic premise that a big name celebrity could jump-start the nascent TV over Internet market<\/strong> and move it beyond the early adopter stage by bringing recognition as well real customers. <\/p>\n Who will that big star be? Some names that come to mind include; Al Gore<\/strong> (through his Current TV<\/strong> effort), Rush Limbaugh<\/strong>, and Eminem<\/strong>. Or, maybe it will be some middle of the road performer like a Jimmy Buffet<\/strong> who could possibly extend his Radio Margaritaville to the world of television. I am curious to get your thoughts on who might be, as was put in the previous issue of the Viodi View, the Milton Berle<\/strong> of TV over Internet. <\/p>\n We love you PEG! Or what\u2019s the real beef?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In the last issue, the Viodi View highlighted the Ensign video bill and, with this issue, Roger Bindl probes further into various franchise bills with a brief, entertaining and educational video explaining the potential impact of these bills on PEG (Public, Education and Government). The video<\/strong> features highlights from four bills, including the Texas bill, and excerpts from an interview with Bob Schaffer<\/strong>, founder and CTO of Technology Planners<\/strong>, as well as a brief video clip of MaryJo Howe<\/strong> explaining Verizon’s<\/strong> position on franchising. <\/p>\n Click Here to See the Video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Other Things of Interest!<\/strong><\/p>\n The inaugural meeting of ATIS\u2019 IPTV Interoperability Forum<\/strong> (IIF) is scheduled for September 13 and 14th in Washington D.C. The IIF is attempting to create some level of standardization and interoperability addressing all of the components and the system archicteture associated with Internet Protocol Television. This effort is long overdue and I encourage widespread participation<\/strong> by independent telcos to ensure that their viewpoints are heard. <\/p>\n It looks like the last chance to derail WaveDivison Holdings<\/strong>, LLC pending acquisition<\/strong> of Seren Innovations<\/strong> is by commenting to the FCC on the proposed deal. Comments to the FCC are due by August 26th and reply comments will be accepted until September 2nd. Seren Innovations represented Northern States Power\u2019s (now Xcel Energy) late 1990s trip into the last mile telecommunications world. <\/p>\n Another auction that could be of interest to anyone looking for an alternative way to get to the last mile is the 12.2 GHz to 12.7 GHz bands<\/strong>, which could be used for providing, in FCC <\/strong>terminology, Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Services (\u201cMVDDS\u201d). The FCC is opening up 22 new MVDDS markets with their upcoming Auction 63<\/strong> slated for December 7th. Some of these markets, such as Rapid City, could represent interesting opportunities for independent telcos looking to expand their footprint. <\/p>\n The Korner: Back to School<\/strong><\/p>\n It was sort of a strange feeling walking around the San Jose State University campus that first welcomed me 25 years ago. Having not been there for several years, I was impressed with the positive changes<\/strong> that have been made to the grounds of this 150+ year old university. What amazed me was one of the buildings that was new 25 years ago is now dated and in the process of being refurbished. <\/p>\n As I glanced at the relatively new Engineering building, I couldn\u2019t help but remember the words of the Electrical Engineering Dean whose pep talk suggested that most of us would not graduate as Engineers. For better or worse, I lived down to his expectations and was kicked out after a semester. By the time I was able to claw my way back <\/strong>to SJSU, there were no slots available in the Electrical Engineering department and I had to change course to the dismal science, economics. <\/p>\n In the back of my mind, I have always had a tinge of emptiness at not being able to complete the Electrical Engineering program. Thus, I was very tickled and pleased to be published in a newsletter associated with the ultimate engineering organization, the IEEE. The summer, 2005 IEEE Consumer Electronics newsletter includes my article on the challenges of making technology transparent<\/strong><\/a>, while providing benefits of the technology. <\/p>\n Jim Farmer<\/strong>, who is editor of this newsletter (as well as being CTO of Wave7Optics<\/strong>) wrote this tongue-in-cheek<\/strong> forward to my article. <\/p>\n \u201cThose of us in technology know that technology is intended to make life more challenging and complex, but the average person has the mistaken opinion that technology is intended to make his or her life simpler.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n A few sentences later, Farmer expresses his real concern<\/strong> that technology is becoming too complex<\/strong> for too many consumers. Jim rightly points out to his engineer readers that they need to keep it simple, stoopid. <\/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 @ SC What You Missed<\/p>\n Listen to the audio for all of the presentations from the 40+ speakers at the IP Video @ Supercomm conference.\u00a0 This CD-ROM includes the indexed presentations. Click here to see the contents.\u00a0 Contact Sean Sullivan of USTA at 202 326 7260 to purchase this CD.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Network PVRs Are Desired, But Operators Have Doubts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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