In partnership with the province’s Municipal and Community Rural High Speed Internet Funding program
Halifax, NS – People in Watt Section, Harrigan Cove and Moser River now have access to high speed Internet powered by Eastlink’s fibre network.
As a company that predominantly serves non-urban areas, Eastlink has a long history of investing in rural towns and communities across Canada.
“Investing in small towns and communities is a fundamental part of who we are as a company,” says Lee Bragg, CEO. “We are proud to continue upgrading services in underserved communities like these delivering the kind of advanced Internet services that traditionally are found only in larger urban centres. This is a great example of what can happen when communities, providers and government work collaboratively.”
The completion of Eastlink’s fibre upgrade provides area residents with the ability to take full advantage of Internet-enabled applications from simple browsing to streaming video with Internet speeds that range from 100 (Eastlink’s core fibre-based high speed Internet service) to 940 Mbps.
Eastlink has invested more than $100M million across Nova Scotia over the last 5 years, bringing state-of-the-art, high speed Internet to towns like Avonport, River Hebert, Milford, Parrsboro, Arichat, Lockeport, Lower East Pubnico, Granville Station, Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury, Guysborough and now Watt Section, Harrigan Cove and Moser River to name just a few.
This upgrade was announced by the province earlier this year.
For more information on the Nova Scotia Rural High Speed Internet Initiative visit www.novascotia.ca/business/internet and for more about Eastlink Internet services, visit www.eastlink.ca/internet.
TDS Named Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah and Otero County
Thank you TDS customers.
Last month, TDS was named the Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah in 2017. This is the second year TDS has received this award. The award is voted on by the readers of The Spectrum & Daily News with offices in St. George and Cedar City.
In New Mexico on Aug. 27, TDS was named the Best Internet Provider in Otero County by the Alamogordo Daily News. TDS has received this award for seven years in a row.
In local marketing campaigns, TDS will thank our customers for nominating us for these awards. In the Alamogordo Daily News, we stated:
“At TDS, we’re focused on making your life better by improving your Internet, TV and phone experience. Imagine how good it felt to hear you voted us Best Internet Provider in the region for the 7th year in a row. Our investment in Otero County is ongoing. We’re committed to providing you with top-notch service and innovative products at an affordable price. Thank you for believing in us.”
TDS customers are thanking us on social media too. New TDS customer John from Alamogordo said his installer “was professional, competent, and exceedingly patient as I peppered him with questions about the installation.” John said, he “couldn’t have hoped for a better installation experience.”
Coral from St. George, Utah said she’s been impressed with the number of upgrades that TDS has done in the last few years.
Thank you TDS customers! We appreciate doing business with you.
Queensbridge Connected Wi-Fi Network Receives Digital Inclusion Leadership Award At Broadband Summit
New Haven, CT May 3, 2017
The Queensbridge Connected, Community-Wide Wi-Fi network model, implemented at Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, NY, received the Digital Inclusion Award this Tuesday at the Broadband Communities Summit. In attendance at the Broadband Summit were Joshua Breitbart, Senior Advisor for Broadband at Office of the Mayor New York City, Alfonso Jenkins, Deputy Commissioner for Telecommunications Planning at New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and Dick Sherwin, President and CEO of Spot On Networks. Breitbart and Jenkins accepted the award which was awarded by Next Century Cities in partnership with Google Fiber.
The Queensbridge Connected model is the first collaboration between the City of New York’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) and the City’s public housing authority (NYCHA). Queensbridge Connected is a part of the OneNYC Broadband Initiative’s promise to invest “in networks providing high-speed residential access either free or at low-cost for low-income communities”.
Spot On Networks was awarded the Queensbridge Houses contract by the City of New York to design, build, implement and support the Queensbridge Connected community-wide Wi-Fi network in 2016. The Network provides free high speed Wi-Fi internet and Wi-Fi calling access with speeds up to 25 Mbps and seamless connectivity throughout the community. Furthering the mission to “Bridge the Digital Divide”, Spot On has hired and trained residents within Queensbridge Houses to assist in building, supporting and promoting the Queensbridge Connected network. The model of employing residents to make Queensbridge Connected a reality has proven essential to the success of the project.
“We are proud to have been chosen as the Wi-Fi service provider for Queensbridge Houses”, stated Dick Sherwin, President & CEO of Spot On Networks, “and we stand firmly with New York City on the importance of ‘Broadband for All’ and ‘Bridging the Digital Divide’. The City of New York is clearly the leader on community-wide Digital Inclusion. We at Spot On Networks believe that the Queensbridge Connected Wi-Fi network is the ideal model for future community-wide broadband networks in the affordable housing sector.”
About the Digital Inclusion Leadership Award
The Digital Inclusion Leadership Awards program is given by Next Century Cities in partnership with Google Fiber. According to a press release on the Next Century Cities website, “These awards celebrate city and county governments that are leading programs or empowering community-based organizations to tackle barriers to Internet adoption. The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the cities that are leading community changing programs and encourage public leaders to get involved in digital inclusion by sharing best practices”.
About Spot On Networks
Spot On Networks (“SON”) is a wireless internet service provider and wireless consulting company representing tens of thousands of residential and commercial tenants, nationwide. SON designs, deploys and manages carrier grade Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Calling and CellBoost® networks to multifamily, senior living, hospitality, retail and commercial buildings. Spot On’s wireless networks are backed by patented network architecture and UserSafe® technology.
SON is the leading provider of managed Wi-Fi networks and in-building voice solutions to the U.S. multitenant housing market and is a trusted leader in wireless since 2004. SON develops wireless solutions to solve the most pressing problems facing today’s building owners.
LIBERTY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN ITS NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS
The company continues to expand its coverage area, making multiple improvements to its network and contributing to Puerto Rico’s development
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, April 24, 2017 – Liberty Puerto Rico continues its expansion and service improvements program, adding thousands of new homes to its coverage area and increasing its bandwidth to 1.2 GHz. These efforts will expand broadband internet access in Puerto Rico and improve the island’s telecommunication platform - crucial factors for socioeconomic development.
To date, Liberty Global, Liberty’s parent company and the largest international TV and broadband company in the world, has invested billions of dollars in similar types of projects across Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The combination of higher bandwidth and the latest in DOCSIS technology leads to higher Internet broadband speeds, in addition to higher network service stability and reliability.
In 2017, Liberty plans to add approximately 25,000 homes to its coverage area. The highest impact areas include the municipalities of Morovis, Naranjito, San Sebastián, Las Piedras, Salinas, Patillas, Corozal, Hatillo, Bayamón, Carolina, Guaynabo and, later this year, Maricao, the only municipality in the main island that was not previously covered by Liberty. These new homes would join the other 30,000 that Liberty has added since 2015.
“Through these projects, we are providing equal access to urban as well as barrios and rural areas, and providing Puerto Ricans the same opportunity to have access to broadband Internet regardless of their socioeconomic level,” commented Naji Khoury, president and CEO of Liberty. “Broadband Internet is a very important tool for economic development and a better quality of life. Making this service available for everyone is essential for Puerto Rico’s recovery and economic development.”
At the same time, Liberty has been making improvements in its existing infrastructure through its 1.2 GHz project. This will provide all homes in the expansion project broadband speeds of up to 400 Mbps. This initiative began in 2015, along with the new build project, in Puerto Rico’s eastern region and has been gradually expanding westward. Among the municipalities that are already enjoying this service are Caguas, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Loíza, Naguabo, Humacao, Yabucoa, Gurabo, Juncos and Las Piedras. Upgrades in the entire island should be completed in the next three years.
The bandwidth upgrade will give all these homes a state-of-the art connection that will provide an Internet service with less congestion and higher speeds. This will not only accommodate a growing demand for this service, but also facilitate the use of multiple electronic devices without sacrificing bandwidth or speed. In addition, subscribers will also have access to more digital channels and On Demand options.
Crews in most of the new build zones are using a procedure called Fiber Deep, in which fiber optic cables are installed closer to the homes. This means that customers in these areas will have higher speeds and a more stable and consistent broadband Internet signal.
The new build zones and bandwidth upgrade are part of the improvements that Liberty Puerto Rico has been implementing to offer the best customer experience possible. In Netflix’s March 2017 report (https://ispspeedindex.netflix.com/country/us/?small=True), Liberty Puerto Rico was ranked as the best Internet provider in Puerto Rico and 20th among all Internet providers in the United States.
The company is investing in its facilities, opening new service centers, remodeling offices and increasing its technical services vehicle fleet. In addition, the company continues to hire and train Puerto Rican professionals, sustaining 947 direct jobs, outsourcing approximately 461 people, and generating approximately 1,500 indirect jobs in Puerto Rico. This year, Liberty will hire 40 additional employees.
Last year, Liberty started to offer 24-hour customer service and technical service appointments seven days a week. The company also implemented several efficiencies to reduce wait time for technical service appointments, at-store service, and customer representative calls. Liberty also expanded its customer service options with Liberty Alerts, through which customers can carry out several service options such as checking balances, receiving statement alerts and payment reminders, verifying if there are any service outages in their coverage area, and confirming technical service appointments.
About Liberty Puerto Rico:
Liberty Puerto Rico is a subsidiary of Liberty Global and has approximately 799,000 RGUs in 75 municipalities in the eastern, central, northern southern and western regions of Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.libertypr.com.
New Campaign Wraps its World-Class Service in a Hometown Feel
Comporium proves out the benefits of putting the “local” in local provider.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – (March 30, 2017) Comporium announced that it is rolling out a new marketing campaign to emphasize its unique combination of market leading services and local focus. The personalization that only a hometown provider can bring versus the cutting edge technological advances of an industry-leading broadband provider. These two things almost never overlap. But Comporium’s new work is showing otherwise by highlighting their unique David meets Goliath skillset. So now you can call them “your friendly, neighborhood tech giant.”
Comporium shared that the 9-month long campaign will feature video, digital, and print ads that emphasize the company’s ability to balance delivering world-class technology and products with providing hometown, customized customer service. Comporium will complement the marketing campaign with a series of surprise events where company employees will appear spontaneously at public events and handout gifts and promotional items.
Comporium offers comparable products and services to those that much larger, national providers do. Unlike other providers in the area, though, Comporium is local. According to the company, its leadership and employees, even its call center, are based locally. Instead of being located hundreds of miles away from its customers, Comporium is based within the communities that it serves. This means that the company’s customers are served by neighbors that treat them as individuals ensuring higher quality, quicker and more reliable customer service.
“In contrast to our competition, at Comporium we’re serving our home community,” stated Matthew Dosch, executive vice president and chief operations officer. “We want to make sure that our neighbors are well cared for, not just in terms of technology and customer service, but also when it comes to Comporium being good corporate stewards. We believe that it’s our responsibility to give back. We are always exploring ways we can contribute to the community to help with both the economy and the wellbeing of the people.”
Comporium is committed to local community engagement and giving back is a part of its fabric. Each year the company supports hundreds of local organizations which help to improve the quality of life for area residents. Comporium also uses tax credits and direct contributions to invest in the local economy and economic development. Because the company and its leadership believe that all businesses should invest in the future of the community and its workforce, they also support local school districts and colleges. Over just the past three years the company has made sizable grants to Clemson, the University of South Carolina and York Technical College. Last month Comporium and the Fort Mill School District jointly announced that Comporium was supporting the District’s new athletic facility, Comporium Athletic Park.
About Comporium
Comporium, Inc., headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., is a diversified privately held communications company providing voice, video, data, wireless, smart home systems and advertising services. Comporium’s ventures include companies providing fiber transport and business solutions, data storage and managed services, smart devices and connected home/car services, and digital signage. For more information, please visit www.comporium.com.
ITC Service Group Acquires Clear Cell Management, Inc.
Adds Wireless Division to Broadband Installation, Design and Staffing Services
CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ITC Service Group ("ITC"), a leading provider of broadband installation, planning, design and staffing solutions to the telecommunications and IT industries, today announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Clear Cell Management, Inc. ("CCM").
The acquisition of CCM allows ITC to become a turnkey provider of services to the wireless telecommunications industry. CCM, with offices in the New York, New Jersey and California, adds new service lines, clients and markets to ITC's rapidly expanding platform of services and locations around the country.
"I am pleased to announce this strategic acquisition," said Tim Sauer, ITC's President. "ITC has an ongoing growth strategy, and this acquisition is an important part of that plan. CCM is an outstanding addition to the ITC family. In addition to the business they bring to our portfolio, this acquisition allows us to offer the full array of wireless services to ITC's existing telecommunications clients. Rob Bradley, CCM's Chief Executive Officer will serve as Senior Vice President of ITC's Wireless Division, and he brings with him a very talented team of committed professionals. With the upcoming roll out of 5G wireless networks nationwide, ITC is perfectly positioned to support these projects on a large scale, providing both fiber and wireless solutions. I have enjoyed getting to know the entire CCM team, and I look forward to the synergies we will create for our clients in the wireless sector."
"I am excited about this transaction," added Rob Bradley. "As an integral part of the ITC family, we will continue to provide excellent service and support to our wireless clients. With the financial strength and support of ITC, and its owner Moorgate Capital Partners, our combined team will provide even more value to our wireless clients and, at the same time, drive significant expansion of new markets and services. We will be able to strengthen our subcontractor and vendor relationships and also provide employees with more opportunity. I could not be more impressed with the ITC and Moorgate teams, and the emphasis they have placed on our clients and employees throughout the integration process. Our current team will remain in place to ensure a seamless transition for our clients and stakeholders."
About ITC Service Group
ITC, with headquarters near Sacramento, CA, provides technical staff augmentation, OSP / ISP design and broadband installation service solutions for the planning / design, construction management, installation / maintenance of voice, data and video networks, nationwide. ITC has offices in the west and midwest and now, with the acquisition of CCM, in the northeast as well. ITC employees more than 700 people nationwide.
About Moorgate Capital Partners
Moorgate Capital Partners is an independent merchant bank and advisory firm focused on the technology, media, and communications industries. Moorgate partners with industry leading executives and management teams to source and invest in middle market growth opportunities. Moorgate has offices in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA.
About CCM
CCM is a provider of outsourced services for the wireless communications industry, including planning, deployment, construction and management of network build-outs. CCM provides wireless carriers with comprehensive real estate site acquisition and zoning services, radio frequency and network design and engineering, infrastructure equipment construction and installation, maintenance, DAS and in-building services, small cell deployment, radio transmission base station modification and project management services.
Contact:
ITC Service Group
Corporate Office
7777 Greenback Lane, Suite 201
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Phone: (877) 370-4482
Fax: (877) 360-4482
TDS purchases Southern Utah firms
TDS Broadband Service LLC, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., and operated by TDS Telecom (TDS®), has purchased InterLinx Communications LLC and its subsidiary Tonaquint Networks LLC in Southern Utah. TDS announced its intent to purchase the companies in November 2016 and completed the sale on Jan. 31, 2017.
“Now the work begins to make this a smooth, seamless transition for customers,” states Jim Butman, Chief Operating Officer at TDS. “We have invested heavily in St. George and other parts of the southwest to greatly improve our services. Adding the strength of the InterLinx network facilities will further strengthen our overall network quality and capacity in the area.”
In December, TDS added a 300Mbps broadband service offering to the St. George community after completing an analog reclamation process to create an all-digital cable network. TDS’ experience with commercial customers will also enable it to offer new services, including TDS managedIP, a voice over the internet protocol service (VoIP), to area businesses.
InterLinx provides wholesale fiber connections to businesses, as well as to local internet service providers (ISPs) and large carrier customers. Tonaquint Networks provides residential and business services via both fiber to the premises and wireless internet technologies.
“Our group has worked hard to provide additional internet options over the past few years,” states Matt Hamlin, CEO at Tonaquint Networks. “Today, we feel strongly about TDS’ ability to maximize the network infrastructure. We are extremely confident that our customers will be well-served by TDS and its vision for the southern Utah area. The demand for higher speeds and more bandwidth is growing exponentially. TDS is prepared for this future growth with its network investments and the acquisition of both InterLinx and Tonaquint Networks.”
TDS — and its newest employees — will focus on a successful integration of the two companies. Butman added, “I’m pleased to report all of the Tonaquint Network/InterLinx employees have been offered positions and will work with TDS to support customers locally, in addition to helping us advance the network throughout Utah.”
Employees from Tonaquint Networks, InterLinx and TDS will operate out of the current InterLinx office space in St. George.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Mid Europa Agrees to Sell Invitel
Mid Europa Partners ("Mid Europa"), the leading private equity firm in Central and South Eastern Europe, announced today that it has reached an agreement for the sale of its investment in Invitel Group to CEE Equity Partners ("CEE Equity"), the investment advisor to the China CEE Investment Co-operation Fund. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including competition clearance, and is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2017.
Invitel is the second-largest incumbent fixed line telecommunications and broadband Internet services provider with more than 1 million homes passed in Hungary, serving both residential and corporate customers.
David Blunck, the CEO of Invitel, commented: "Under Mid Europa's leadership we have strengthened Invitel's position in the Hungarian market and we are grateful for their support. We look forward to further developing the business under the ownership of CEE Equity."
Rothschild acted as exclusive financial adviser and Dechert as legal counsel to Mid Europa.
Milestone Communications Inc. Activities 2016
Press Release
December 1, 2016
Castle Pines, CO – Milestone Communications, Inc., a leading brokerage firm serving the cable telecommunications industry, served as advisor to Zito Central PA, LLC in their purchase from Tele-Media Company of Zion, LLC of the cable television systems serving approximately 4,300 RGU’s in the communities of Snow Shoe and Zion, Pennsylvania. Michael W. Drake of Milestone Communications, Inc. represented Zito Central PA, LLC in the transaction.
Press Release
October 1, 2016
Castle Pines, CO – Milestone Communications, Inc., a leading brokerage firm serving the cable telecommunications industry, served as advisor to Grayson Cable Rocket, LLC in the sale of their cable television systems serving approximately 2,000 RGU’s in Pottsboro, Ector, East Grayson and Sherwood Shores in Grayson and Fannin Counties, Texas to Cable One, Inc. Michael W. Drake of Milestone Communications, Inc. represented Grayson Cable Rocket, LLC in the transaction.
Press Release
August 10, 2016
Castle Pines, CO – Milestone Communications, Inc., a leading brokerage firm serving the cable telecommunications industry, served as advisor to Southern Cayuga County Cablevision, LLC in the sale of their cable television system serving approximately 1,850 RGU’s in the Village of Moravia and the Towns of Moravia, Locke and Genoa in Cayuga County, New York to Zito New York, LLC. Michael W. Drake of Milestone Communications, Inc. represented Southern Cayuga County Cablevision, LLC in the transaction.
Press Release
February 29, 2016
Castle Pines, CO – Milestone Communications, Inc., a leading brokerage firm serving the cable telecommunications industry, served as advisor to Buford Media Group, LLC in the sale of their cable television systems serving Haskell, Munday, Stamford, Knox City and Crowell, Texas to WesTex Telco, LLC. Michael W. Drake of Milestone Communications, Inc. represented Buford Media Group, LLC in the transaction.
FCC Designates Spot On Networks As A Lifeline Broadband Provider
Spot On Networks receives Federal Communications Commission approval for its petition seeking designation as a Lifeline Broadband Provider
NEW HAVEN, CT (PRWEB) DECEMBER 05, 2016
Spot On Networks (“SON”) has been designated as a Lifeline Broadband Provider (“LBP”) by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) after filing a petition earlier in the year. The FCC Order was adopted on December 1, 2016 and granted LBP designation to four broadband providers including Spot On Networks (Spot On), LLC.
Lifeline Broadband Providers are eligible to be reimbursed through the Lifeline program for Broadband Internet Access Services they are providing to eligible qualifying subscribers. SON initially applied for designation as a LBP due to its being chosen as the Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) for the New York Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) Queensbridge Houses multifamily housing development located in Long Island City, NY. NYCHA Queensbridge is the largest affordable housing development in the United States with 3,149 units and an estimated 7,000 residents across 26 clusters of 95 buildings in two adjacent complexes.
“We are thrilled that the FCC has designated Spot On Networks as a Lifeline Broadband Provider so that we can continue to provide our Wireless Internet Services to all who need Internet access,” stated Spot On Networks CEO, Richard “Dick” Sherwin. Sherwin continued, “The Lifeline Program offers an avenue for companies like ours to provide Internet services where they are most needed and protects consumers from being priced-out of essential broadband services. Additionally, with the implementation of WiFi Calling, residents of buildings with poor cellular services get the added benefit of voice services using smartphones. We are honored to be a part of this program.”
Lifeline Broadband is an expansion of the FCC’s Lifeline Assistance program which helps to make communications services more affordable for those in need. Initially the Lifeline program, established in 1985, focused primarily on telephone services but has been expanded to include cellphones and now internet services. To be designated as an LBP, an applicant needs to meet service standards, function in emergency situations and meet technical and financial requirements among other requirements. SON has a long-standing reputation in the multifamily industry as being the largest and most trusted provider of managed, carrier-grade, high speed wireless access and has differentiated itself by using in-house network management, monitoring and support services as well as designing networks that are customized to the needs of a building and its residents.
In his statement regarding the reform and modernization of the Lifeline program, Chairman Tom Wheeler stated, “In modernizing the program, we were guided by the principles of competition and choice. Reforms are designated to encourage more providers to participate in the program so that competition in the marketplace can increase the value of the subsidy and provide choices for consumers”. SON has long supported the FCC’s efforts to modernize the Lifeline Program in today’s digital age where the average American relies primarily on their smartphone and Internet access for communication, education and work.
About Spot On Networks
Spot On Networks (“SON”) is a wireless internet service provider and wireless consulting company representing tens of thousands of residential and commercial tenants nationwide. SON designs, deploys and manages carrier grade WiFi, WiFi Calling and CellBoost® networks to multifamily, senior living, hospitality, retail and commercial buildings. Spot On’s wireless networks are backed by patent-pending network architecture and UserSafe® technology.
SON is the leading provider of managed WiFi networks and in-building voice solutions to the U.S. multitenant housing market and is a trusted leader in wireless since 2004. SON develops WiFi-backed solutions to solve the most pressing problems facing today’s building owners.