Rural Telecommunications articles from March 2003

Rural Telecommunications archives from March 2003

Breaking the mold. (From the Editor).
March 1, 2003... As you read through this edition of Rural Telecommunications, you'll see a few changes within its pages. Just as our members have found that "doing things the same way, for the sake of doing things the same way" rarely makes sense, we took a...

What makes workers happy? (Short Takes).
March 1, 2003... When it comes to the question of job satisfaction, employees and employers have vastly different ideas. In a recent study by USAToday.com and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employees ranked job security (65%), benefits (64%)...

A race for FTTH. (Short Takes).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Although fiber to the home (FTTH) is making great strides in high-speed broadband access to the Internet in some parts of the world, by comparison the United States lags behind in the deployment of FTTH systems. That's the recent finding of the...

The best of the best. (Short Takes).
March 1, 2003... What do disposable diapers and Post-It Notes, the printing press and telescope, rubber bands and the atomic bomb have in common? These are just a few of the 325 inventions considered to have had a profound effect on human life--for better or...

Say it with a smile. (Short Takes).
March 1, 2003... How employees communicate with customers over the telephone leaves a greater impression than the words they use, according to Measure-X, a training, measurement and recognition firm. The company offers the following advice for employees...

Good customer relations takes multiple strategies. (Perspective).
March 1, 2003... One of the main goals of a rural telecommnunications company is to maintain good relationships with its customers. At Egyptian Telephone Cooperative Association, in Steeleville, Ill., we focus heavily on creating a bond with our...

How do you handle after-hour calls/complaints? (First Person).
March 1, 2003... "We provide customer service 24/7," said Dave Grahn, general manager of Wabash Mutual Telephone Co. (Celina, Ohio). "All after-hour calls are answered by a contracted answering service. If a customer, or member, reports a problem and indicates...

Affordable telecom services: a 'Lifeline' for tribal residents.
March 1, 2003... Telecommunications has become an integral part of the American economy, society and culture Almost everyone depends on the telephone and telecom services in their everyday lives. In addition to its business and social uses telephone access...

DSL vs cable: a look at the national scene. (The [Broadband] Customer).
March 1, 2003... Much like "The Bachelor" reality shows recently shown on television, in which contestants were busy putting on their best while putting down their opponents, went on a few dates and exerted some gamesmanship until one bachelor emerged the...

Customer service: at sixes and sevens with 24/7.(US)
March 1, 2003... How many times have you dialed an 800 number only to be greeted by a mechanical voice prompting you to "press 1 on your touch tone key pad?" Sure, the voice is pleasant and the background music soothing, but isn't it maddening to be trapped in...

Unlimited horizons...ultimate learning experiences. (2003 NTCA Annual Meeting & EXPO).(National Telephone Cooperative Assn., US)
March 1, 2003... Set in the desert beauty and endless landscape of Arizona, NTCA's 49th Annual Meeting & EXPO attracted nearly 3,000 attendees to Phoenix February 2 - 5. Held at the Phoenix Civic Plaza in the heart of the city, the four-day event was filled...

The state of the association: NTCA CEO Michael E. Brunner presented the following state of the association address at NTCA's 49th Annual Meeting & EXPO in Phoenix. (2003 NTCA Annual Meeting & EXPO).(US)
March 1, 2003... Good morning. Welcome to Phoenix and NTCA's 49th annual meeting. It's so good to see you. I'm here to present the state of your association, which, I'm pleased to report, is excellent. At the end of 2002, we numbered 1,133 members, with...

Award winners. (2003 NTCA Annual Meeting & EXPO).(US)
March 1, 2003... Following are the winners of NTCA's 2003 Annual Awards, presented February 5 during the association's annual meeting. Each year, NTCA recognizes the outstanding achievements of the leaders in rural telecommunications through this national...

NTCA 2003 policy resolutions. (2003 NTCA Annual Meeting & EXPO).(National Telephone Cooperative Assn., US)
March 1, 2003... Resolutions approved by the membership at the NTCA Annual Meeting represent NTCA's policy and objectives for the year. Resolutions are proposed by NTCA member committees or by joint committee action, reviewed by the NTCA resolutions committee,...

Cap Rock Telephone opens door to telemedicine. (Industry Innovator).(in Quitaque and Turkey, Texas)
March 1, 2003... It's no secret that broadband is progressively being deployed across rural towns and communities, in some cases at a pace far faster than in big cities. And while towns outfitted with broadband capabilities bring a richness of communications to...

Emery Telcom harnesses the power of marketing. (Member Focus).(US)
March 1, 2003... Traveling through central Utah, one easily could become captivated by the picturesque setting. From the soaring mountain ranges to the red rock canyons to the beautiful desert land, a person could travel this region for miles without...

Hiring first-time workers right the first time. (Work Force).
March 1, 2003... So tell me about your previous job." "What were your responsibilities?" "Describe a situation in which you solved a tough problem for a customer." All great questions when hiring for an entry -- level job. Seasoned interviewers know that a...

Partnering with members to strengthen our grassroots efforts. (Executive Viewpoint).
March 1, 2003... During his opening general session address at the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association's 49th Annual Meeting & EXPO in Phoenix, Ariz., NTCA President John C. Metts shared his vision for the future of the association. President...

EXPO '03 reflects sign of the times. (2003 NTCA Annual Meeting & EXPO).
March 1, 2003... With more than 100 exhibitors, NTCA members did not have to search long to find answers to their telecommunications technology questions at the NTCA EXPO '03 held at the association's 49th Annual Meeting in Phoenix in early February. In...