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Viodi View Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n Current Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a> <\/p>\n ViodiTV<\/a><\/p>\n Viodi Forums<\/strong> Club Viodi<\/a> Open Forum <\/a> <\/p>\n Multimedia Search <\/a> <\/p>\n Viodi Workshops<\/strong> Local Content<\/a> Telco Video 101<\/a> IPTV Training<\/a> Industry<\/strong> Viodi Links<\/a> Southwest Venture<\/a> Weissberger’s Wireless World & More<\/a> <\/p>\n About Viodi<\/a> Contact<\/a> Biographies<\/a> <\/p>\n Some Videos<\/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 – April 11th, 2007<\/strong> <\/p>\n By Ken Pyle, ken.pyle at viodi.com, Managing Editor, Viodi View<\/p>\n Is the \u201cField of Dreams<\/strong>\u201d in our own backyard? This was the title of my presentation at last week\u2019s Iowa Telephone Association (ITA). While this phrase is synonymous with the idea of building something and the customers will follow, I gave this metaphor a different spin in my presentation. My premise is that the big corporations, such as Major League Baseball, are likely to overlook the hidden gems<\/strong> at the local level that independent telcos can mine so easily. More about how telcos can exploit what larger corporations miss in an article I will soon pen for Club Viodi<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Good Local Content Ideas from Independent Telcos & More at Club Viodi<\/strong> <\/p>\n In the meantime, Club Viodi members, Hunter Callanan<\/strong> of Clear Lake Telephone<\/strong> provided some good ideas at the ITA conference on how they are leveraging local content to make a community a better place. <\/p>\n A Clear Vision of Local Content<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Some other posts on Club Viodi in the past two weeks include: <\/p>\n Iowa Telephone Association Video Workshop \u2013 Video & More\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n Hunter Callanan was one of several speakers at the ITA\u2019s Video Workshop<\/strong>. Here are some other posts from that one day, very informative gathering.<\/p>\n He Blinded Me with Broadcast – A Unique Chance to Mix <\/strong>(advertorial) <\/p>\n Justyn Miller<\/strong> is one of the many excellent speakers at Telecom @ NAB. Thomas Dolby<\/strong> (yes, of she \u201cBlinded Me with Science\u201d fame from the MTV golden years) will be joining service provider speakers such as Gene South<\/strong> of Lakedale Communications, Scott Sandall<\/strong> of D&E, Jim Rennard<\/strong> of Canby Telephone and Alexis Johnson <\/strong>of Verizon-FIOS<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Gary Arlen, who is also speaking at Telecom @ NAB, wrote a good article, Herding Dinosaurs Towards Convergence<\/em><\/a>, <\/strong>that looks at the motivation for and the importance of this event to both telcos and broadcasters. . <\/p>\n Learning the tools and techniques for producing content is the focus of the Video Production Crash Course<\/strong><\/a>. As an organizer of this particular track, I am lucky to see the presentations ahead of time and what I have seen is right on the mark for telcos wanting to get into the video production business. Just announced to the speaker line-up are Tony Carrison<\/strong> and J.R. Reid<\/strong> who are veteran sound and lighting experts, respectively. <\/p>\n Independent telcos<\/strong>, contact me<\/strong> at ken dot pyle at viodi dot com<\/strong>, if you are planning on attending either the Video Production Crash Course or Telecom at NAB. We have some special things planned for our independent telco friends<\/strong>. <\/p>\n The IPTV Crash Course \u2013 A Book Review<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t read many books. It has something to do with my short attention span. So, when I told my wife that I had read a book on my trip to Des Moines, her reaction was that the book must have been awfully compelling. In short, it was and I recommend this book as a must-read<\/strong> for anyone interested in the topic of IPTV. To read the full review, click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n A Potential WiMAX DoublePlay in the 700 MHz Band<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Alan Weissberger reports on the potential double play use of Mobile WiMAX in the 700MHz band. To read the full article, click here<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n The \u201cP\u201d in Public Update<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Apparently, the uproar of a purported 4,000 complaints to the FCC caused Qwest and Cingular to have a change of heart regarding blocking certain conference bridges. Having said that, another press release suggests that call blocking is negatively affecting non-profits. As a result, Independent telcos and conferencing companies will present their position to the FCC next week, April 18th to 20th. My bias is towards these conference providers, as I use their services quite frequently and love their value. Click here<\/strong><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n State Wide Franchise Debate \u2013 In Depth Video Coverage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Roger Bindl<\/strong> filmed over 7 hours of testimony at the Wisconsin State Capital regarding a proposed statewide cable television franchise<\/strong> bill. Roger does an excellent job of cutting this down to approximately 10 minutes of meat. He provides a balanced view, especially given that he is Chairman<\/strong> of the Madison Public Access channel, WYOU<\/strong>. Probably the most interesting thing about this video is towards the end, when a television broadcaster blocks Roger\u2019s camera to get a \u201cfeel good\u201d shot. According to Roger, this was the only time that the mainstream media appeared at this event. Click here to view Roger’s report.<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n IPTV 2007: Best Practices and Beyond<\/a> <\/strong>(advertisement) <\/p>\n Zhone Technologies, Inc.<\/strong> and Consolidated Communications, Inc.<\/strong> are hosting \u201cIPTV 2007: Best Practices and Beyond<\/strong><\/a>\u201d, an education symposium and workshop. It will take place in Mattoon, IL at Consolidated Communications headquarters May 16 and May 17. This will a full day workshop offered on each day to service providers, engineering consultants and distributors interested in IPTV. <\/p>\n As hosts for the workshop, Consolidated Communications<\/strong> will offer attendees a tour of its IPTV head end, currently delivering 178 channels, along with its operations center. Zhone will provide attendees hand-on demonstrations during the workshop of a working IPTV system that includes MPEG-4 AVC with HDTV. <\/p>\n The workshop will be an educational opportunity<\/strong> to learn about IPTV best practices from Consolidated Communications, where the market and technology is in 2007 for IPTV services, as well as the features, functions and applications of the complete IPTV system. Participating in the workshop with Zhone are leading IPTV technology suppliers Tut Systems, Amino Communications, Verimatrix<\/strong>, and Kassena<\/strong>. ViewNow TV<\/strong> will also be represented to address content and value. <\/p>\n \u00a0Attendance is free to registrants, and will include breakfast, lunch and a reception the evening of May 16. More details and registration can be found at www.zhone.com\/iptv2007<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n THIS JUST IN \u2013 Standards Survey for Independent Operators<\/strong><\/p>\n The Rural Standards Initiative<\/strong> is surveying independent telcos to determine there view on standards. Forrest Wilhoit<\/strong>, Project Coordinator for the Rural Standards Initiative, reports that, <\/p>\n \u201cThe Rural Standards Steering Committee is conducting a process of due diligence in order to measure the perceptions of the industry and to develop a coordinated response to technical challenges.\u00a0 The steering committee is taking a highly open-minded, organic approach to this at this time – we’re focusing on getting a clear picture of the “ground truth”.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Rural Standards Initiative is an important effort and you can learn more from this exclusive ViodiTV interview<\/strong><\/a> with Charlie Watts<\/strong>. To participate in the survey, please contact Mr. Wilhoit at forrest at ruralstandards dot org<\/strong>. <\/p>\n
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