Rural Telecommunications articles from July 2008

Rural Telecommunications archives from July 2008

It's a self-service world.(FROM the Editor)
July 1, 2008... During a recent trip to the grocery store, the checkout person asked me if I needed help with my bags. I said no, of course, but it started me thinking about the way customer service today compares with customer service in the past. I know many...

Discover the Olympian within.(SHORT Takes)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... As the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing begin, we are reminded of Olympic moments in the past with athletes who have captured and inspired the world with their prowess, passion and discipline. Witnessing those moments and reliving them, we often...

'Super-Secure' cell phone--for a super price.(SHORT Takes)
July 1, 2008... If you can afford a Porsche, you might be able to swing the $1,700 price tag for the P9251 cell phone, featuring a "super-secure" fingerprint identification system. The phone's unique design allows users to "flip" it 360 degrees, and the unit...

Designing customer service.(SHORT Takes)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... In the rush to bring new products to market, companies often overlook designing the customer experience. Sohrab Voussoughi, founder and president of Ziba Design in Portland, Ore., promotes a 360-degree customer experience--thoughtful attention...

A fine line toward fitness.(SHORT Takes)(employee incentives)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Company incentives and penalties that encourage a fit lifestyle among employees raise legal, moral and practical questions, but that hasn't stopped companies from moving ahead with targeted programs encouraging physical fitness. Some American...

Tips to protect your identity.(SHORT Takes)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Shop Smart offers five key ways to protect yourself against identity theft: 1) Get your credit report--as often as once every four months to better spot suspicious activity; 2) Limit the number of credit cards you carry while shopping. Bring...

Booming Web-based applications.(SHORT Takes)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... A market for Web-based applications is booming. A wide range of online applications make it easier for individuals and businesses to manage their work while dramatically reducing costs and simplifying collaborations. Files no longer are stored...

Signs of service.(Perspective)(Pembroke Telephone Cooperative )(Company overview)
July 1, 2008... I have a sheet posted next to my computer as a daily reminder. It states the mission and core values by which my company, Pembroke Telephone Cooperative (Pembroke, Va.), operates. Developed several years ago by our board of directors and...

What are the advantages and challenges of serving younger customers?(FIRST Person)(Survey)
July 1, 2008... The "2007 Rural Youth Telecommunications Survey," conducted by the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), found that nine out of 10 survey respondents between the ages of 14 and 24 have a cell phone. Rural telcos need to cultivate a relationship...

Going local: delivering video content.
July 1, 2008... A cook extraordinaire in Georgia serves up delectable dishes on his own TV show, "Hans Cooks the World." A grandparent in rural North Dakota watches from home as her grandson scores the winning touchdown during a high-school game. An...

Growing your community means growing your business.
July 1, 2008... From the earliest days of telecommunications, rural telephone companies have actively promoted the economic well-being of the communities they serve. Their reasons are the same today as they were in the 1890s: Most rural telcos were founded and...

Position your telco for the future.(PLAN IT OUT)(Industry overview)
July 1, 2008... The success or failure of any business is dependent on two fundamental components: a sound business plan and a qualified and motivated management team. It's the same for rural telephone companies. However, when most rural telephone companies...

TV changes channel with digital.
July 1, 2008... In an episode of "The Simpsons," the family's TV is taken away and Homer wails, "No TV?! How am I going to eat my meals?" That's a question nearly 11.5 million American households--or a little more than 10 percent of the "over the air"...

NTCA 2008 fall conferernce preview.(FALL Conference Preview)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2008... September 21-24 Indian Wells, California Experience the desert sanctuary of Indian Wells, Calif., during NTCA's Fall Conference, September 21-24. Set amid the majesty of the Santa Rosa Mountains of Southern California, Indian Wells is home...

2008 NTCA TeleChoice Award winners.(WINNER Circle)(NexTech Systems Corp.)(Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.)(Ponderosa Telephone Co.)
July 1, 2008... The annual NTCA TeleChoice Awards recognize excellence in NTCA member company public relations and marketing. TeleChoice Award winners were honored during NTCA's Spring PR & Marketing Conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla., April 29-30. The...

Get to know the competition--and your customers--through marketing research.(MARKETING Matters)
July 1, 2008... Everyone knows that the telecommunications industry is changing at a dramatic pace. Our customer base is changing, as is its use and integration of technology. Gathering customer feedback, researching your competitors and monitoring customer...

Are your children ready to run the family business?(BUSINESS Matters)
July 1, 2008... When you retire, will your business prosper under your children's management? Maybe not. Only one of three family businesses survives transition to the second generation, according to Boston-based Family Firm Institute. Business...

Insure your company against data breaches.(RISK Manager)
July 1, 2008... In today's electronic world, identity and credit theft have become very common occurrences. Sometimes, it is a single case of thievery. Other times, it is part of a much broader act where a business network and the data it contains are...

Gold medal management.(EXECUTIVE Viewpoint)(Viewpoint essay)
July 1, 2008... In August, the eyes of the world will turn toward China and the games of the XXIX Olympiad. Millions will watch as elite athletes push themselves--and each other--to spectacular limits. We'll witness record-breaking feats and world-class...