Rural Telecommunications articles from January 2004

Rural Telecommunications archives from January 2004

50 years and counting.(Editorial)
January 1, 2004... With the passing of the New Year, we've entered the fourth year of the new millennium, and the 50th year of NTCA's existence. The association commemorates this milestone during one of the most exciting, and precarious, times in telecom. ...

The numbers game.(ShortTakes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Wireless telephone users are well aware of the new number portability rules, which went into effect November 24, and many are biding their time until they can switch carriers, now that they can keep their telephone numbers. A recent survey...

Language barrier.(Phelps and Associates Inc., Joe Phelps)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Words do have power. Using the right words when communicating in the work place can resolve conflict and elicit cooperation among co-workers, and demonstrate a unified position of mutual respect and understanding toward customers. Joe...

Prepaid Internet making strides.(ShortTakes)
January 1, 2004... Although still small compared to the prepaid phone calling card business, prepaid Internet has "strong potential for considerable uptake by businesses and consumers," according to In-Stat/MDR. The high-tech market research firm estimates...

Playing in the band.(ShortTakes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... For those teens who want to try their hand at joining the band, but without the stage fright, Verizon Wireless has unleashed a music game, School of Rock--Audition. Based on the movie, School of Rock, Verizon's musical puzzle game has players...

FCC misses mark on number portability.(Perspective)(Federal Communications Commission)
January 1, 2004... The orders released late last year by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) providing "guidance" to the industry on wireless local number portability were fraught with procedural defects and failed to consider the technical and financial...

How do you decide which new services to offer customers?(FirstPerson)
January 1, 2004... Telecommunications is among the most dynamic industries today because of the quick evolution of technology and the constant emergence of new services. When the number of emerging services seem overwhelming, how do rural telco managers decide...

Here today ... Does DSL have a future?(digital subscriber line)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... Without question, digital subscriber line, or DSL, is the broadband technology of choice for the independent telecommunications sector. The 2003 NTCA Broadband Availability Survey revealed that 92% of respondents deploy DSL as a broadband...

Strategies & successes: an update on the CLEC market.(competitive local exchange carrier)
January 1, 2004... The road to success is not without potholes. Talk to independent telephone companies and cooperatives that have gone down the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) path and they heartily agree with that adage. But they offer their own...

Looking up: lenders see return in rural ILECs.(Independent Local Exchange Carrier)
January 1, 2004... Across the board, telecom is starting to show signs of recovery from one of the most savage shakeouts any industry has ever gone through. The new market entrants with flawed business plans and those with limited capital are long gone. While...

Revving up revenue streams: a nontraditional approach.
January 1, 2004... "ILECs are facing an unprecedented impact [on] their traditional revenue streams. Between the growth of wireless, access charges dropping and regulatory changes, any ILEC relying solely on traditional revenue streams has a bleak future. Our...

Deploying E-911 Phase II in rural America.(Federal Forum)
January 1, 2004... The issue of 911 calls and wireless users has been a long and contentious one. NTCA members in particular have a keen interest in assuring that wireless service providers offer E-911 service, because as rural citizens, they and their neighbors...

Hold the phone: Blackfoot telephone automates directory assistance.(Industry Innovator)(Blackfoot Telecommunications)
January 1, 2004... "Blackfoot Directory Assistance. City and state, please?" "Missoula, Montana." "Are you looking for a business, government or residential listing?" "Residential, please." "What listing?" Although the conversation sounds ordinary,...

NTCA celebrates 50th anniverary.(National Telecommunications Cooperative Association)
January 1, 2004... 2004 is a remarkable year for NTCA as we observe our 50th year as the voice of rural telecommunications. With the fast rate that companies go out of business these days, providing a half a century of service is an extraordinary feat, and we...