“Exede” Satellite Broadband Begins; New Service Spreading Steadily
The new era in broadband satellite transmission began on Jan. 16, when customers equipped with new SurfBeam 2 equipment began receiving 12 Mbps Internet access from the ViaSat-1 satellite. ViaSat began commercial service with new branding – “Exede by ViaSat” – to give the occasion the feel of a fresh start.
“Satellite broadband now means true broadband. ViaSat and NRTC are delivering a product that exceeds every Internet option that many rural areas have seen before. It makes sense to introduce a new name for a product that goes beyond,” said NRTC CEO Tim Bryan.
 The Exede brand refers to both 12 Mbps downstream service from of the new satellite as well as 5 Mbps from the legacy Anik F2 and WildBlue-1 satellites, which began commercial service in December 2011. ViaSat will indicate specific subscriber packages by adding dash extensions based on speed and capacity. For example, subscribers who choose 12 Mbps service with 15 gigabyte (GB) monthly usage caps would be buying Exede12-15. Those opting for 5 Mbps service with 10 GB caps would receive Exede5-10.
ViaSat will use the brand “WildBlue by ViaSat” to refer to legacy services with downstream speeds of 1.5 Mbps and below on the old SurfBeam 1 equipment.
The 12 Mbps service from ViaSat-1 began Jan. 16 as ViaSat started opening gateway ground stations to support subscribers in various regions of the country. ViaSat is activating a total of 17 gateways supporting 63 beams, with a new gateway opening every other day. The target is for the final gateway and the last four beams to open on Feb. 26. All Anik F2 and WildBlue-1 beams providing enhanced 5 Mbps service were active as of Jan. 16.
The new branding plan includes customization possibilities for NRTC members. Some members may choose, in lieu of Exede, to brand the service as “[local utility’s brand name] by Exede.”
In January, NRTC members were busy reviewing the amended service agreement for the new satellite broadband service. Those who were already in the business began receiving SurfBeam 2 equipment as soon as they returned executed copies back to NRTC. NRTC also began distributing copies of the amended agreement to NRTC members interested in entering satellite broadband during the opening Exede wave.
In addition, NRTC is offering different business models for reducing risks associated with subscriber acquisition costs (SAC) with plans tailored to members’ needs. NRTC also is offering discounts on showroom SurfBeam 2 installations.
ViaSat announced its new branding plans during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The show offered an opportunity for many in the consumer electronics and telecom industries to get a first-hand demo of 12 Mbps service via satellite at a ViaSat demonstration site outside the convention center. Engadget, an e-magazine specializing in consumer electronics news, produced an online video of the demonstration, which includes high-speed Web, streaming media and voice over Internet protocol communications over ViaSat-1.
Strategic Outlook: NRTC Negotiating for Rural Wireless Broadband Solutions
A look across the telecommunications landscape reveals that wireless broadband technologies have captured a prominent place in Americans’ everyday lives. Where 10 years ago, many came to regard having a device to call home when needed a necessity of life, it is rapidly becoming the same story for people who buy smart phones, tablets and other broadband devices that combine voice and web applications.
NRTC believes that ensuring such technologies reach rural areas is a major part of its strategic future and is eager to consult with members on how to plan their wireless strategies. It is currently in talks with multiple players in the mobile broadband world for potential agreements and cooperative projects. While there is no guarantee that any of these discussions will reach a successful conclusion, NRTC is increasingly confident that it soon will be able to announce new mobile opportunities for members.
“As these discussions grow more detailed, we cannot mention any particular company names right now. However, it is clear that we are in the room with the right people who could work with us to make a difference.” said NRTC CEO Tim Bryan. “The aim of NRTC’s talks, which include large companies and entrepreneurs, is to create joint ventures with the best economics and flexible terms for individual members.”
To ensure that the end results of the talks match the needs and goals of rural telcos as closely as possible, NRTC is closely coordinating its efforts with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association.
NRTC comes to this field with ample experience. It is the 100 percent owner of Telispire, a successful mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that specializes in supporting rural mobile phone service resellers. It also was an investor in a fourth generation (4G) service.
Also, NRTC has the experience and capability to provide the technical details that a rural wireless start-up will need. “We can handle billing and other back office systems and advice, as well as assist in the choice of infrastructure and negotiations for consumer devices,” said Kurt Schaubach, NRTC chief technology officer.
The major national mobile phone carriers in 2012 are in a race to build out as much 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology as possible to get an advantage in the growing mobile broadband market. Entrepreneurs are seeking alternative spectrum sources, such as the mobile satellite bands, to build LTE networks to challenge the major carriers. Throughout the race, the question of how to ensure that these technologies spread to rural areas remains frustratingly unanswered.
There is good reason for potential mobile broadband providers to talk to NRTC and its member companies. Many NRTC members hold wireless licenses that could fit into to future broadband networks under the right conditions. NRTC is actively looking for ways to help members put that spectrum to use for their benefit.
NRTC Annual Meeting 2012 Convenes to Discuss Telco Matters on Feb. 13
“Mobile broadband” and “Exede” are sure to be among the most prominent terms on the lips of attendees at the NRTC Annual Meeting in San Diego. Part one of the meeting, covering business for the telephone-industry membership (and including lunch), convenes at noon in the Randle Ballroom of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Hotel in San Diego, CA.
NRTC holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association’s (NTCA’s) Annual Meeting and Expo, a fitting place to explore new technologies and new business opportunities.
The agenda includes addresses by Board Chairman Trevor Bonnstetter, Secretary/Treasurer Randy Houdek and NRTC CEO Tim Bryan. Also scheduled is the election of an at-large telco position on the board. Jeff Wilson, general manager of Dickey Rural Telephone Cooperative in Ellendale, ND, is the incumbent board member. NRTC did not receive any nominations for other candidates.
Registration for the annual meeting opens at 4 p.m. on Feb. 11 in the main NTCA registration area in the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Registration will continue in the same place all day Feb. 12 and on the morning of Feb. 13 until 10 a.m. Members also may register outside the Randle Ballroom prior to the meeting.
NRTC also will be exhibiting in Booth 412 of the NTCA Expo during exhibit hours on Feb. 14-15.
NRTC delivered a full package of annual meeting information via e-mail on Jan. 17. Telco members should review that information and remember to return the 2012 Annual Meeting and Luncheon R.S.V.P. Form. Each company may sign up to four for lunch. Please return the form following the instructions on the sheet by Tuesday, Feb. 7.
NRTC TelcoVideo Hones Programming and Technology for the Rural Provider
NRTC has been engaged in a number of projects aimed at making the multichannel video business more accessible for rural telcos that wish to enter. An increasing number of companies are finding value in working with NRTC. Seven companies have decided to enter the video business as TelcoVideo members in the last three months.
Entering the multichannel video world presents a significant number of new disciplines for any telco. Rural providers, in addition to dealing with the many economic and technological moving pieces that have to move in sync, require flexibility to address widely varying subscriber bases that often are many times smaller than urban or suburban service areas.
Recently NRTC provided extensive assistance to members seeking to optimize their channel lineups. Many were able to inject flexibility into their offerings, including the option to move 20 or more channels from their main packages to a specialized tier. Balancing programming lineups to meet subscriber expectations, while promoting better economics, is one of the major advantages that NRTC can offer. NRTC assisted members by helping organize viewer surveys in their video service areas. This allowed members to understand their subscriber programming preferences in order to adjust channel lineups and reduce costs.
TelcoVideo members have access to powerful online tools through NRTC to aid with day-to-day operations, including a reporting tool for keeping track of subscriber and contract management systems.
NRTC also keeps members up to date on changes in the video industry through a number of resources:
- A twice-monthly newsletter follows industry trends, programming updates, equipment, and middleware developments.
- A monthly webcast allows members an open form to talk directly with NRTC staff and other members about the always-changing details of video operations.
- A promotional calendar allows members to know when new shows premiere and keep track of other programming highlights.
NRTC members that would like to join the growing list of telcos offering their customers a full and affordable line-up of video programming should contact their regional business managers. See the Field Staff page on NRTC.coop.
Write us at nrtconnects@nrtc.coop.
© 2012 NRTC
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Our Mission
To lead and support our members by delivering telecommunications solutions to strengthen member businesses, promote economic development and improve the quality of life in rural America.
In This Issue
• “Exede” Satellite Broadband Begins; New Service Spreading Steadily
• Strategic Outlook: NRTC Negotiating for Rural Wireless Broadband Solutions
• NRTC Annual Meeting 2012 Convenes to Discuss Telco Matters on Feb. 13
• NRTC TelcoVideo Hones Programming and Technology for the Rural Provider
• Top Gun Pilot/Golfing Philanthropist to Speak at March Annual Meeting
• OPASTCO and NTCA Discuss Possible Merger
• Verizon Promoting LTE for Home Broadband
• Where You Can See NRTC
Annual Meeting
Top Gun Pilot/Golfing Philanthropist to Speak at March Annual Meeting
 Major Dan Rooney, a decorated officer in the Oklahoma Air National Guard who served three combat tours flying an F-16 in Iraq, will be the guest speaker at NRTC’s annual meeting for electric members on March 4 in San Diego.
As distinguished as major Rooney’s fighter pilot career may be, he has received even more recognition for his stateside avocation – golf.
Major Rooney is the founder of Patriot Golf Day, an annual fundraising drive to create scholarships for the children of American soldiers who died or were disabled in action. Each Labor Day since 2007, the Patriot Golf Day organization has asked golfers to add a $1 donation to their greens fees. Over the last five years, the organization has raised more than $12.8 million.
Rooney also is an experienced motivational speaker who gave a talk to the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Rural Telcos
OPASTCO and NTCA Discuss Possible Merger
OPASTCO and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) have begun active merger talks. According to a report by Communications Daily, the two organizations have appointed an eight-member panel made up of rural telco executives as well as OPASTCO President John Rose and NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield.
“At this point, we are seeking to identify synergies between our organizations and how we might leverage them to create a unified voice for the rural telecommunications industry. We know that our industry, today and in the future, will benefit from a cohesive, powerful voice,” OPASTCO said in a Jan. 6 e-mail to its membership.
The two organizations currently work closely on issues connected to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2011 Universal Service Fund/intercarrier compensation order, which they are challenging through a petition for reconsideration and a law suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. OPASTCO and NRTC also already plan to combine their annual winter meetings beginning in 2013 (see NRTConnects, January 2012).
Broadband
Verizon Promoting LTE for Home Broadband
Several published reports out of the Consumer Electrics Show in Las Vegas referred to plans Verizon is discussing to promote traffic on its Long-Term Evolution (LTE) fourth generation mobile phone network by encouraging home usage as well as mobile
AllThingsD.com, an online technology publication, quoted Colson Hillier, Verizon’s executive director of data applications, as saying “We think it fits very well [for] rural markets and customers that are under-serviced.” Verizon envisions a mixture of devices throughout the home. Some would be LTE-enable phones and tablets and others would be Wi-Fi devices connected to LTE routers. The plan requires a form of family data sharing, similar to the current plans for sharing voice minutes among family members.
Verizon does not offer such plans yet, although one is likely to emerge in 2012.
Where You Can See NRTC
• Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
RBM Fred Grantham will attend
• Feb. 12-15: NTCA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA
NRTC staff will attend and exhibit
• Feb. 13: NRTC Annual Telco Meeting, San Diego, CA
NRTC staff will attend
• Feb 21-23: CalComm Showcase and Tech Expo, Sacramento, CA
RBM Bob Evans will attend
• Feb. 25-28: Colorado Rural Electric Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
RBM Fred Grantham will attend
• Feb. 28: Colorado Telecommunications Association Winter Meeting, Denver, CO
RBM Bob Evans will attend
• March 1-9: NRECA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA
NRTC staff will attend
• March 4: NRTC Annual Electric Meeting, San Diego, CA
NRTC staff will attend
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