Monthly Archives: December 2016

As we close sixteen, you all know the scene, Good tidings we send, but that’s not the end! At this time of year, we join with the rest We take some time to look at the best! We blog every week, your approval we seek. Of the posts that you picked, 5 got the most clicks They are highlighted here For the end of the year! A hot topic in the land, is Rural Broadband…. Read more »

Fiber optic technology is today’s best Internet access delivery method and because of its versatility, durability, and expandability, it is likely to remain so, well into the future.  Delivering FTTP, or fiber to the premise is the goal of many Internet service providers, including OTELCO.  Meeting that goal is not easy — especially in the rural areas we serve.  Below is a look at 2016 stats for OTELCO FTTP implementation. Some simple math makes it… Read more »

It’s no secret that our need for Internet bandwidth is growing rapidly, but you might be surprised just how fast.  Nielsen’s Law of Internet Bandwidth states that a user’s connection speed grows by 50% per year.  This is linked to Moore’s Law, which tells us that computing power grows by 60% per year.  Nielsen attributes the slower growth of Internet bandwidth to three factors: Upgrading infrastructure is complicated and expensive. Users are reluctant to spend… Read more »

We have discussed the importance of reliable Internet for rural telehealth and telemedicine.  Senate Bill 2873, the Expanding Connectivity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act further emphasizes the significance of reliable Internet. On November 28 the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill that aims to better integrate the Project ECHO model into health systems across the country. Subsequently, the House also passed the legislation, which is now in the hands of President Obama waiting for a signature…. Read more »