Viodi View – The Bridge Between the Heartland and Silicon Valley

  • Top US Telcos Reject Broadband Connect America Funding

    Ten of the nation’s largest carriers were invited to participate in the Connect America Funding program, offered by the Federal Communications Commission.  The fund would pay carriers $775 per broadband line deployed to an unserved home within its territory up to a specific dollar level (which varies from one carrier to another).  Seven of the 10…

  • Give Us Visibility

    Give Us Visibility

    With over 650 telecommunications’ operators behind last week’s letter that was sent to the FCC and their elected representatives, the rural telecom industry is as united as it ever has been. In the words of the letter, “This letter is…clear and unambiguous notice of our collective concerns with the ‘regression analysis’ based caps on Universal…

  • The 100+ MPG Fleet Truck

    The 100+ MPG Fleet Truck

    Although the utility vehicles featured in Jay Leno’s video below have greater upfront costs, the operational cost savings could pay for the Via Motor’s trucks over time. Built with a standard chassis and body from GM, these hybrid-electric trucks look no different from a regular vehicle, but they provide a robust generator capability at the…

  • Viodi View – 07/13/12

    Viodi View – 07/13/12

    The FCC’s 901 Auction (Mobility Fund Phase 1 reverse auction) is less than three months away and yesterday was the filing deadline for applications.  There many unserved places in the U.S that need mobile and fixed broadband, as shown in this interactive FCC map.  Bringing mobile to these areas will hopefully have the side benefit of…

  • Communications Needed on the Road Less Traveled

    Communications Needed on the Road Less Traveled

    The road less traveled is Highway 6, starting in eastern California and traversing the mid-section of Nevada.  Although its neighbor highway to the North, Highway 50, was deemed the “Loneliest Road in America,” the two-lane ribbon of seemingly endless asphalt that is Highway 6 really deserves that moniker.  The condition of the road is great,…

  • Amazon Smart Phone Coming in 2012 May Challenge Carrier Model

    Overview Amazon is said to be actively developing a smartphone that would present a direct challenge to Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android devices.  Two sources close to the project say the Amazon smartphone would essentially serve as an extension of the Amazon Kindle Fire – the  hugely successful tablet e-reader offering  (this author has a…