The Independent: February 2008

USF tug of war

By Joan EngebretsonFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

As providers try to hang onto limited Universal Service Fund money, only the FCC can break the deadlock -- but where it will throw its weight is anyone's guess...

Tough enough

By Carol WilsonFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Most companies probably would not want to be known as cutthroat. But in one part of Montana, the cutthroat trout is a good catch, and Cutthroat Communications is a company providing high-speed communications lines to an underserved population...

The Independent beat

By Joan EngebretsonFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

When the chance to edit The Independent came up at the beginning of the year, I jumped at it. In the 15 years that I've been reporting on the telecom industry, one of my favorite focus areas -- or what journalists call "beats" -- has always been Independent telcos...

Lucrative roaming solution

By Kevin FitchardFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Right smack in the middle of Texas, away from the urban centers of Austin and Dallas, one of the most sophisticated cellular networks is operating...

RLEC M&A to rise in 2008

By Ed GubbinsFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Rural carrier consolidation is expected to heat up this year, according to Jeff Gardner, CEO of Windstream Communications...

Broadband may be growing faster than we think

By Tim McElligottFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

As it is, and may always be, with science: We still don't know what we don't know. Turns out it's the same with technology, as demonstrated in recent Pew Research reports about broadband...

New face in space

By Ed GubbinsFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

After building the ground infrastructure for satellite broadband provider WildBlue, ViaSat believes it's learned enough about the business to voyage into space itself...

Dossier: Thomas Dorr, U.S. Department of Agriculture

In speaking with vendors and rural telcos in this market, they say it is easier to get Rural Utilities Service funding for fiber buildouts than copper. Is this official policy now? Read more of The Independent's interview with Dorr....

Alltel advocates for the consumer

Alltel Wireless, the country's fifth-largest wireless provider, prides itself on being the good neighbor of telecom and the customers' advocate...

Building a better bill

By Mark DonahueFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Touting scalability and simplicity, Mid America Computer Corp. has been on a tear lately, announcing agreements with Independent telcos and other service providers to use its billing solutions...

Updates from the writers

We've kept our eye on a number of developing stories we've written about in previous issues of The Independent. Read some of the updates here...

Video market shifting

By Carol WilsonFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

There are clear shifts afoot in the video market ...

Getting on the same page

Bernie ArnasonFeb 11, 2008 12:00 AM

I recently participated in a focus group with marketing directors from several Independent operating carriers. Our goal was to discuss and brainstorm how carriers need to adapt in these competitive times and become more market-focused...