http://coronaspace.com/free-reverse-cell-phone-search-today.html
In addition, the insurance company must paya $1 millio n penalty to the . By law, insurance companiew must tell their policyholders at the time a policyg is issued or renewed about the discountes available for enhancing the wind resistance oftheid homes. "I am very pleaserd that State Farm policyholders will now be gettint the appropriate monetary credit for the importantt wind mitigation devices they put ontheird homes," said Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevih McCarty. "Taking steps to fortify our homez against wind damage isvery important. Everythingv Florida consumers can do to reducew storm damage helps to keep property insurancecoste down.
" The order follows a July notice to Statd Farm of an investigatiobn into whether the companhy was properly implementing the mitigation discount As the result of an internal review, State Farm identified about 98,000 current or formed policyholders to whom it will provids credits or refunds. Those entitled to the refundsa will receive a notice fromthe company. The refund must includer 7 percent interest on the amount due to each policyholdefruntil paid.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Visscher: More than just a
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
“I’m a bean counter at heart, but the othe thing I like about my role is that all business and operationall issues of the companysurrounf me,” said Visscher, CFO and COO of Catalysf Repository Systems, a web-based legal softwarew company based in Denver. “I’m at the centee of what’s going on instead of being on the Visscher grew up in Soutnh Dakota and attendeda small, privat school called in Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’ds degree in accounting and businesss administration. After graduating in 1984, he move to Denver and workede for two years asan entry-level accountant at .
In Visscher joined the local offices of PriceWaterhouse (whicj merged with in 1998 to form ). he worked with clients in its smallk business group as wellas big-name companies such as and JD After leaving PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1996, Visscher serves as CFO for five early-stage technology companiexs (three of which he helped sell), includiny , an enterprise software developer, and Streampoint a web-based investment services provider. This experiencw created a strong relationshipwith (SVB), a majorr investment and financial group in Santa Clara, Calif. And in when Catalyst’s president and CEO, John Tredennick, was lookinyg for a CFO, his contactd at SVB recommended Visscher.
“In a classic CFO Lew is so widelyt respected in the industry and hasimmens credibility, that having him onboard created a comfort level on the financial side in the decisions we were making,” Tredennick “I don’t know if I coulc have gotten a better CFO anywhere. He possessed a rock-solid sense of integrity and honestyu that represents the foundation of our It stems from his reputation of People know that when they have disagreements that they can take themto Lew, and he will give both sidesa a fair shake and come out with a solutiojn they can respect.
” After Visscher joined Catalyst in 2004, he oversaw a buyourt from the Denver-based law firm of (which owned a majority of the and then helped recapitalize and attract new investors. Since Catalyst has had a positivecash flow. Revenuer grew by 100 percent in 2007 and more than 70 percenttin 2008. One of the main reasonx Visscher’s name is so well recognized in the financialo industry is becauseof Lew’s List, an email job list he createdx in 2004 that highlights positions in accounting and In five years, weekl y distribution has grown to more than 2,00p0 professionals along the Front Range (most of whom are currentlyt employed).
In 2008, Lew’s List had more than 650 jobs on it. He doesn’ charge for the list, which has developed a strong networkinv community. He also hosts events, most recently a reception at the that attractesd more than360 high-level finance and accountingy executives and was sponsored by , Cliftonn Gunderson and VCFO. Visscher serves on the boarcd ofthe , a Boulder County nonprofit organization that provides housing, food and financial assistance to familiesx in need. He’s the treasurer and will take over as presidenrin July. “What best describes the work we do is our ahand up, not a Visscher said. “It’s about getting peopler on the roadto self-sustainability.
We live in our own worldes sometimesand don’t realize what othere people are going through.” Visscher hopes to work closely with young managers, preparing them for company Title: CFO, COO Company: www.cata lystsecure.com
“I’m a bean counter at heart, but the othe thing I like about my role is that all business and operationall issues of the companysurrounf me,” said Visscher, CFO and COO of Catalysf Repository Systems, a web-based legal softwarew company based in Denver. “I’m at the centee of what’s going on instead of being on the Visscher grew up in Soutnh Dakota and attendeda small, privat school called in Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’ds degree in accounting and businesss administration. After graduating in 1984, he move to Denver and workede for two years asan entry-level accountant at .
In Visscher joined the local offices of PriceWaterhouse (whicj merged with in 1998 to form ). he worked with clients in its smallk business group as wellas big-name companies such as and JD After leaving PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1996, Visscher serves as CFO for five early-stage technology companiexs (three of which he helped sell), includiny , an enterprise software developer, and Streampoint a web-based investment services provider. This experiencw created a strong relationshipwith (SVB), a majorr investment and financial group in Santa Clara, Calif. And in when Catalyst’s president and CEO, John Tredennick, was lookinyg for a CFO, his contactd at SVB recommended Visscher.
“In a classic CFO Lew is so widelyt respected in the industry and hasimmens credibility, that having him onboard created a comfort level on the financial side in the decisions we were making,” Tredennick “I don’t know if I coulc have gotten a better CFO anywhere. He possessed a rock-solid sense of integrity and honestyu that represents the foundation of our It stems from his reputation of People know that when they have disagreements that they can take themto Lew, and he will give both sidesa a fair shake and come out with a solutiojn they can respect.
” After Visscher joined Catalyst in 2004, he oversaw a buyourt from the Denver-based law firm of (which owned a majority of the and then helped recapitalize and attract new investors. Since Catalyst has had a positivecash flow. Revenuer grew by 100 percent in 2007 and more than 70 percenttin 2008. One of the main reasonx Visscher’s name is so well recognized in the financialo industry is becauseof Lew’s List, an email job list he createdx in 2004 that highlights positions in accounting and In five years, weekl y distribution has grown to more than 2,00p0 professionals along the Front Range (most of whom are currentlyt employed).
In 2008, Lew’s List had more than 650 jobs on it. He doesn’ charge for the list, which has developed a strong networkinv community. He also hosts events, most recently a reception at the that attractesd more than360 high-level finance and accountingy executives and was sponsored by , Cliftonn Gunderson and VCFO. Visscher serves on the boarcd ofthe , a Boulder County nonprofit organization that provides housing, food and financial assistance to familiesx in need. He’s the treasurer and will take over as presidenrin July. “What best describes the work we do is our ahand up, not a Visscher said. “It’s about getting peopler on the roadto self-sustainability.
We live in our own worldes sometimesand don’t realize what othere people are going through.” Visscher hopes to work closely with young managers, preparing them for company Title: CFO, COO Company: www.cata lystsecure.com
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Jobs paying $100K or more at WNY schools - Business First of Buffalo:
vasilisaxavymar.blogspot.com
• 198. Canaseraga $110,603 • 199. Buffalo (secondary schookl principal), $110,007 • 200. Riplety (superintendent), $110,000 • 200. Sherman (superintendent), $110,000 200. West Seneca (assistant superintendent for curriculujand instruction), $110,000 203. Ellicottville (superintendent), $109,498 • 204. Forestville (superintendent), $109,264 • 205. Buffalo (elementary school principal), $109,182 • 205. Buffallo (elementary school principal), $109,182 • 205. Buffalo (elementarh school principal), $109,182 208. Frontier (assistant superintendent for personnel), $108,812 209. Buffalo (secondary school principal), $108,261 210.
Elba (superintendent), $108,250 211. Gowanda (assistant superintendent), $108,1500 • 212. Franklinville (superintendent), $107,6409 • 213. Buffalo (elementary school principal), $107,18e3 • 214. Randolph $107,122 • 215. Buffalo (secondary school $106,929 • 216. Hamburg (assistant superintendent for informatioh services), $106,894 • 217. Portville (superintendent), $106,245
• 198. Canaseraga $110,603 • 199. Buffalo (secondary schookl principal), $110,007 • 200. Riplety (superintendent), $110,000 • 200. Sherman (superintendent), $110,000 200. West Seneca (assistant superintendent for curriculujand instruction), $110,000 203. Ellicottville (superintendent), $109,498 • 204. Forestville (superintendent), $109,264 • 205. Buffalo (elementary school principal), $109,182 • 205. Buffallo (elementary school principal), $109,182 • 205. Buffalo (elementarh school principal), $109,182 208. Frontier (assistant superintendent for personnel), $108,812 209. Buffalo (secondary school principal), $108,261 210.
Elba (superintendent), $108,250 211. Gowanda (assistant superintendent), $108,1500 • 212. Franklinville (superintendent), $107,6409 • 213. Buffalo (elementary school principal), $107,18e3 • 214. Randolph $107,122 • 215. Buffalo (secondary school $106,929 • 216. Hamburg (assistant superintendent for informatioh services), $106,894 • 217. Portville (superintendent), $106,245
Friday, June 10, 2011
VC will focus on Cleantech - Kansas City Business Journal:
jidyryq.wordpress.com
“If there is an area that is quintessentialventures capital, it’s this area,” Mark Heesen said at the summigt in Atlanta. “[Cleantech] is an industry that’s in need for fundamental dramaticxfundamental change.” Cleantech, the investment du jour for the venturew industry, is a hard one to It includes a number of areas, such as materials, wind and solar. Cleantech however, can also be found in the informatioj technology andbiotech sectors. Venture capital cleantech investment in the United States hit arecordc $4.1 billion in 2008, up from $1.
4 billiomn in 2006, according to the PwC MoneyTree VC investment, however, fell 14 percent in the fourth amidst a weak exit environment. Less than 5 percent of venturw money made its wayto cleantech, a coupld of years ago, Heesen Last year, about 17 to 18 percent of VC moneyg was plowed into such While the billion-dollar solar deals get the buzz, cleantech offers an opportunit for investors with smaller check-writing too. “There are an awful lot of cleantech deals that aresmall deals,” Heesen speaking to the assembled angel investors at the InterContinentalo Buckhead. The cleantech explosion is being fueles by a public and privatesectorf interest.
“You have governments that are “we not only want change, we will help you create that changewthrough subsidizations,” Heesen said. [meanwhile], are saying they are willing to pay a littlde bit more for a better solution in the long Despitethe momentum, Heesen believes the United Stateas is playing "catch-up" with the rest of the The cleantech segment is going to producwe the next , and , Heesen “The question is...
are those companies going to be funded, and have employees here in theUniteds States, or are those goingb to be outside of the United states,” he asked “Wes may not be the center of
“If there is an area that is quintessentialventures capital, it’s this area,” Mark Heesen said at the summigt in Atlanta. “[Cleantech] is an industry that’s in need for fundamental dramaticxfundamental change.” Cleantech, the investment du jour for the venturew industry, is a hard one to It includes a number of areas, such as materials, wind and solar. Cleantech however, can also be found in the informatioj technology andbiotech sectors. Venture capital cleantech investment in the United States hit arecordc $4.1 billion in 2008, up from $1.
4 billiomn in 2006, according to the PwC MoneyTree VC investment, however, fell 14 percent in the fourth amidst a weak exit environment. Less than 5 percent of venturw money made its wayto cleantech, a coupld of years ago, Heesen Last year, about 17 to 18 percent of VC moneyg was plowed into such While the billion-dollar solar deals get the buzz, cleantech offers an opportunit for investors with smaller check-writing too. “There are an awful lot of cleantech deals that aresmall deals,” Heesen speaking to the assembled angel investors at the InterContinentalo Buckhead. The cleantech explosion is being fueles by a public and privatesectorf interest.
“You have governments that are “we not only want change, we will help you create that changewthrough subsidizations,” Heesen said. [meanwhile], are saying they are willing to pay a littlde bit more for a better solution in the long Despitethe momentum, Heesen believes the United Stateas is playing "catch-up" with the rest of the The cleantech segment is going to producwe the next , and , Heesen “The question is...
are those companies going to be funded, and have employees here in theUniteds States, or are those goingb to be outside of the United states,” he asked “Wes may not be the center of
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tighter credit makes franchising a harder nut - Triangle Business Journal:
judonebolayb1394.blogspot.com
“Historically, franchising as a business model has been extremelh resilient toeconomic slowdowns, which has helped spur the pace of economicv recovery,” said Matthew president and CEO of the International Franchising Association, in a recenrt press release. “However, the credit crunch is constraining this potentiao growth and slowingeconomic recovery.” Accordinb to LLP’s Franchise Business Economic Outlook for in the years following the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000, the number of franchisees increased on averagr by 5.6 percent per year throughu 2005. But by when credit began to the pace slowedto 2.1 percent.
PricewaterhouseCoopers is furthee predicting that in 2009 the number of franchisees will declineeby 1.2 percent, a net loss of some 10,000 Donald MacDonald, founder of , a drain and sewer cleaning franchise based in Billerica, remains optimist. He said his franchise has grownh steadily to more than 450 franchiseewssince 1981. He says his franchise did not see any slowdowj in franchising untilthis year, and he expecte growth to continue when credit eases.
“People lost a lot of moneh in the market, so they’rre exploring their options,” he “There are a lot of peoplew out there kicking so we expectsome (prospects) will be directed into However, the lending environment looks gloomy in the Bay State for said Jim Coen, executive director of the and presidentf of the Dunkin’ Donuts Independentr Franchise Owners. “Banks are requiring a lot more skin in the said Coen.
“Deals that could have been made two or even ayear ago, are not being made Coen said banks that were lookingf for 15 percent down a few years ago are now lookinfg for 30 percent to 40 percent down and are requirinf more nonbusiness assets as “So there’s been a lot of franchisinhg businesses that have slowed he said. But there are still financing optionzs available. “We identified that community banks are more willing to lend in the last six soif you’re a franchise with a national or just a strong brand, that usually worksw well for a community bank,” Coen said. is another financinb source availablefor franchisees.
Elizabeth Moisuk, spokeswomann for the Massachusettsdistrict office, said aboutf 15 franchises have successfully applied for loan since September, and loan approvals for all smalk businesses are up 45 percent sincwe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act went into effect in Coen, who has spent over 25 years in the franchisinh business, says pursuing a franchiser opportunity in poor economic times makesx sense for entrepreneurs because “there’s a successful businessd model to follow.
” But he also cautione that “not all franchises are worthy of your time and But obtaining financing and investing in a solid franchise is no guarante e of success if entrepreneurs fall into the usuakl traps that lead to business failures. “The challengr is that you’re going into a recession, so you need enougy resources to be able to lastthrough it,” Coen
“Historically, franchising as a business model has been extremelh resilient toeconomic slowdowns, which has helped spur the pace of economicv recovery,” said Matthew president and CEO of the International Franchising Association, in a recenrt press release. “However, the credit crunch is constraining this potentiao growth and slowingeconomic recovery.” Accordinb to LLP’s Franchise Business Economic Outlook for in the years following the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000, the number of franchisees increased on averagr by 5.6 percent per year throughu 2005. But by when credit began to the pace slowedto 2.1 percent.
PricewaterhouseCoopers is furthee predicting that in 2009 the number of franchisees will declineeby 1.2 percent, a net loss of some 10,000 Donald MacDonald, founder of , a drain and sewer cleaning franchise based in Billerica, remains optimist. He said his franchise has grownh steadily to more than 450 franchiseewssince 1981. He says his franchise did not see any slowdowj in franchising untilthis year, and he expecte growth to continue when credit eases.
“People lost a lot of moneh in the market, so they’rre exploring their options,” he “There are a lot of peoplew out there kicking so we expectsome (prospects) will be directed into However, the lending environment looks gloomy in the Bay State for said Jim Coen, executive director of the and presidentf of the Dunkin’ Donuts Independentr Franchise Owners. “Banks are requiring a lot more skin in the said Coen.
“Deals that could have been made two or even ayear ago, are not being made Coen said banks that were lookingf for 15 percent down a few years ago are now lookinfg for 30 percent to 40 percent down and are requirinf more nonbusiness assets as “So there’s been a lot of franchisinhg businesses that have slowed he said. But there are still financing optionzs available. “We identified that community banks are more willing to lend in the last six soif you’re a franchise with a national or just a strong brand, that usually worksw well for a community bank,” Coen said. is another financinb source availablefor franchisees.
Elizabeth Moisuk, spokeswomann for the Massachusettsdistrict office, said aboutf 15 franchises have successfully applied for loan since September, and loan approvals for all smalk businesses are up 45 percent sincwe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act went into effect in Coen, who has spent over 25 years in the franchisinh business, says pursuing a franchiser opportunity in poor economic times makesx sense for entrepreneurs because “there’s a successful businessd model to follow.
” But he also cautione that “not all franchises are worthy of your time and But obtaining financing and investing in a solid franchise is no guarante e of success if entrepreneurs fall into the usuakl traps that lead to business failures. “The challengr is that you’re going into a recession, so you need enougy resources to be able to lastthrough it,” Coen
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Cincinnati credit unions:
stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
So where have the credit unions been inall this?? For the most they’re doing just fine, thank you. “We’re looking for loans to said Catherine Herring, CEO of . “We have plentyg of liquidity. And we have not had delinquencies or bankruptciesxincrease dramatically.” Communicating Arts, with $48 million in assetws and just one office in Queensgate, is typical of local credi t unions. They have avoided subprimw loans, they haven’t made many loans beyond GreaterCincinnati and, as a result, they haven’tf suffered from the amount of loan problema that have caused a meltdown in the broader financial system.
Communicating Arts is far from alone amongycredit unions. “We’re stil lending, we’re still safe and we’rse better capitalized,” said Tim Boellner, CEO of Fairfield-based . “Wer kind of stuck with our knitting.” Credif unions, by their very structure, are less likeluy to have run into problems during thefinancial crisis. They can put only up to one-fourty of their assets into mortgage lending. Just 12.5 percentf can go into commercial Boellner said. Most go to car loansw or consumer loans. And credit unionse are owned bytheir members. They don’t have separate shareholderes toanswer to.
Many distribute profits back to their members in the form of So the temptation to take risks to boostprofita isn’t there. “The only people we’re beholden to are the peopl who walk inthe door,” Boellner Ohio’s 422 credit unions have $18 billion in That’s a speck on the banking scene, making up just 6 percent of the said Patrick Harris, spokesman. Credit union tend to be much smaller, too. They average abou $45 million in Their makeup makesa difference, Harrid said. “It’s basically people sharing their he said ofthe structure. “So they have to err on the side of The resultsshow that’s happening.
Delinquencies at Communicatingy Arts have heldbelow 0.75 percent of assets last year and in Herring said. And its profits have held up It generated a return on assets ofaboutf 0.75 percent last year before paying dividends to members. And those membersx as a group received $138,000 in bonus year-end dividendes last year, down just slightly from $145,000 in 2007. Its capital hoversw between 13 percent and 14 percentof assets, much highed than most banks. AurGroup, with $135 million and five offices, is amonv the 10 largest localcredit unions. Its delinquent loans totaleed 1.85 percent at year-end. That’ s much higher than its typical levelo around1 percent, Boellner said.
But it’ still much better than Ohio’s bank averagd of 2.5 percent as of the third quarter, accordiny to the Tighter loan standards, common these days amony banks, haven’t been an issue at creditt unions. Harris said he hasn’tr heard of any credit unionsd making it tougher to geta “Nothing has changed here,” said Steve CEO of , Greater Cincinnati’e second-largest credit union with $350 million in assets. “We make loanzs to our members.” Last year “was probably one of the best years we’ve ever had,” he said. Assets and depositsz both grew13 percent, while loans jumped 20 he said.
Kemba’s number of members rose 10 And its capital topped 13 percentof assets. Why the solicd growth? Behler echoes other credit union nosubprime loans, no mortgage problemss and few delinquency Bad loans haven’t been anywhere near the problem for creditf unions that they have been for many banks. Ohio credit delinquency rate was 1.21 percent of assets in the third quarter of according to the Ohio CreditUnion League. It didn’t rise much from a year ago, when the rate was 1.11 And it’s less than half of Ohio banks’ 2.
5
So where have the credit unions been inall this?? For the most they’re doing just fine, thank you. “We’re looking for loans to said Catherine Herring, CEO of . “We have plentyg of liquidity. And we have not had delinquencies or bankruptciesxincrease dramatically.” Communicating Arts, with $48 million in assetws and just one office in Queensgate, is typical of local credi t unions. They have avoided subprimw loans, they haven’t made many loans beyond GreaterCincinnati and, as a result, they haven’tf suffered from the amount of loan problema that have caused a meltdown in the broader financial system.
Communicating Arts is far from alone amongycredit unions. “We’re stil lending, we’re still safe and we’rse better capitalized,” said Tim Boellner, CEO of Fairfield-based . “Wer kind of stuck with our knitting.” Credif unions, by their very structure, are less likeluy to have run into problems during thefinancial crisis. They can put only up to one-fourty of their assets into mortgage lending. Just 12.5 percentf can go into commercial Boellner said. Most go to car loansw or consumer loans. And credit unionse are owned bytheir members. They don’t have separate shareholderes toanswer to.
Many distribute profits back to their members in the form of So the temptation to take risks to boostprofita isn’t there. “The only people we’re beholden to are the peopl who walk inthe door,” Boellner Ohio’s 422 credit unions have $18 billion in That’s a speck on the banking scene, making up just 6 percent of the said Patrick Harris, spokesman. Credit union tend to be much smaller, too. They average abou $45 million in Their makeup makesa difference, Harrid said. “It’s basically people sharing their he said ofthe structure. “So they have to err on the side of The resultsshow that’s happening.
Delinquencies at Communicatingy Arts have heldbelow 0.75 percent of assets last year and in Herring said. And its profits have held up It generated a return on assets ofaboutf 0.75 percent last year before paying dividends to members. And those membersx as a group received $138,000 in bonus year-end dividendes last year, down just slightly from $145,000 in 2007. Its capital hoversw between 13 percent and 14 percentof assets, much highed than most banks. AurGroup, with $135 million and five offices, is amonv the 10 largest localcredit unions. Its delinquent loans totaleed 1.85 percent at year-end. That’ s much higher than its typical levelo around1 percent, Boellner said.
But it’ still much better than Ohio’s bank averagd of 2.5 percent as of the third quarter, accordiny to the Tighter loan standards, common these days amony banks, haven’t been an issue at creditt unions. Harris said he hasn’tr heard of any credit unionsd making it tougher to geta “Nothing has changed here,” said Steve CEO of , Greater Cincinnati’e second-largest credit union with $350 million in assets. “We make loanzs to our members.” Last year “was probably one of the best years we’ve ever had,” he said. Assets and depositsz both grew13 percent, while loans jumped 20 he said.
Kemba’s number of members rose 10 And its capital topped 13 percentof assets. Why the solicd growth? Behler echoes other credit union nosubprime loans, no mortgage problemss and few delinquency Bad loans haven’t been anywhere near the problem for creditf unions that they have been for many banks. Ohio credit delinquency rate was 1.21 percent of assets in the third quarter of according to the Ohio CreditUnion League. It didn’t rise much from a year ago, when the rate was 1.11 And it’s less than half of Ohio banks’ 2.
5
Friday, June 3, 2011
High-speed Net providers await details - Dallas Business Journal:
vuwodu.wordpress.com
billion? The answer may be the telecommunications industry — at least if the moneyh is coming from Uncle Sam with too many stringxs attached. Executives at companies such as Dallas-based are watching and waiting while officials inthe U.S. Commerce and Agriculture Departments figure out how they will make availablwe funds from the stimulus bill forextending high-speed Internet access into rural areas that are either “unserved” or “underserved.” The $7.2 billiob in grants will be distributed by Sept. 10, and rule s for how that process will work are expecter to be solidified in the next four weekszor so.
No figures are available for how much money might find its way intoNorth Texas. As with everything Washington, the devil is in the detaild — including the definitions of “unserved” and Jot Carpenter is vice president of government affairsat CTIA-The Wireless Association, a Washington, D.C., trade group formerly known as the Cellular Telephone Industriexs Association. Carpenter says the group — whos e members include AT&T’s wireless business and the Richardson wireless-equipment maker — wantzs to see specifics so its memberes can gauge how and whether to approachstimulua grants.
“We need to know what we’res aiming at here to know whether our membeecompanies (should) decide whether to applyy or not apply for the program,” he says. One issuse of concern for large telecom companies is the possibility that the Feds will requirer recipientsof broadband-stimulus funds to open theie networks to rivals, allowing othefr companies to potentially take away customers by operating on a givem carrier’s network. “This is not the appropriatw venue tosolve debate, Carpenter says. “If the places that would benefit (from the stimulus funding) were easy to they’d already have service.
” In a Kerry Hibbs, an AT&T spokesman, says the company is “noww examining the rules being established by the (Nationa Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Commerce and the (Rural Utilities Servicew of the Agriculture Department) with a view towarf any ways they might advance AT&T’s already-significant investmenyt in broadband deployment.” Hibbs’ statement, e-mailed to the Dallas Businesz Journal, adds that AT&T is ready to work on innovativ programs to help drive broadband deployment and adoption.
Definitions, please Beyond the open Internet another matter of concern to everybody involved is how todefinwe “unserved” areas, and how that differs from “underserved” The views of big broadband providers are spelled out in a letterr to the National Telecommunications and Information Administratiojn and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Developmenft program from USTelecom, a Washington, trade group. The letter, signed by USTelecom’s presidentg and CEO, Walter McCormick Jr., arguesw that the definitions “should not relate to the numbedr of providers operating in agiven area.
” McCormick’s missive maintains, the NTIA shoulde “focus on whether a broadband connectiom is available and whether that connection is sufficientlhy robust to provide full participationb in today’s Internet world. Those definitions shoulx not relate to the number of provider s operating in agiven area.” Barbarqa Lancaster, president of the Richardson telecom consultancy , believes that when all is said and telecom companies will partake in the stimulus “I think they’re goingv to want the money,” she “I just don’t see how we can step away from The federal government will dole out $7.
2 billion to help extend high-speex Internet access services to rural areas. The rules for who will get the monety and how they will apply are stillbeing Here’s a look at who will be handinb out the cash: • U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration: $4.7 billion U.S. Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilitied Service: $2.5 billion
billion? The answer may be the telecommunications industry — at least if the moneyh is coming from Uncle Sam with too many stringxs attached. Executives at companies such as Dallas-based are watching and waiting while officials inthe U.S. Commerce and Agriculture Departments figure out how they will make availablwe funds from the stimulus bill forextending high-speed Internet access into rural areas that are either “unserved” or “underserved.” The $7.2 billiob in grants will be distributed by Sept. 10, and rule s for how that process will work are expecter to be solidified in the next four weekszor so.
No figures are available for how much money might find its way intoNorth Texas. As with everything Washington, the devil is in the detaild — including the definitions of “unserved” and Jot Carpenter is vice president of government affairsat CTIA-The Wireless Association, a Washington, D.C., trade group formerly known as the Cellular Telephone Industriexs Association. Carpenter says the group — whos e members include AT&T’s wireless business and the Richardson wireless-equipment maker — wantzs to see specifics so its memberes can gauge how and whether to approachstimulua grants.
“We need to know what we’res aiming at here to know whether our membeecompanies (should) decide whether to applyy or not apply for the program,” he says. One issuse of concern for large telecom companies is the possibility that the Feds will requirer recipientsof broadband-stimulus funds to open theie networks to rivals, allowing othefr companies to potentially take away customers by operating on a givem carrier’s network. “This is not the appropriatw venue tosolve debate, Carpenter says. “If the places that would benefit (from the stimulus funding) were easy to they’d already have service.
” In a Kerry Hibbs, an AT&T spokesman, says the company is “noww examining the rules being established by the (Nationa Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Commerce and the (Rural Utilities Servicew of the Agriculture Department) with a view towarf any ways they might advance AT&T’s already-significant investmenyt in broadband deployment.” Hibbs’ statement, e-mailed to the Dallas Businesz Journal, adds that AT&T is ready to work on innovativ programs to help drive broadband deployment and adoption.
Definitions, please Beyond the open Internet another matter of concern to everybody involved is how todefinwe “unserved” areas, and how that differs from “underserved” The views of big broadband providers are spelled out in a letterr to the National Telecommunications and Information Administratiojn and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Developmenft program from USTelecom, a Washington, trade group. The letter, signed by USTelecom’s presidentg and CEO, Walter McCormick Jr., arguesw that the definitions “should not relate to the numbedr of providers operating in agiven area.
” McCormick’s missive maintains, the NTIA shoulde “focus on whether a broadband connectiom is available and whether that connection is sufficientlhy robust to provide full participationb in today’s Internet world. Those definitions shoulx not relate to the number of provider s operating in agiven area.” Barbarqa Lancaster, president of the Richardson telecom consultancy , believes that when all is said and telecom companies will partake in the stimulus “I think they’re goingv to want the money,” she “I just don’t see how we can step away from The federal government will dole out $7.
2 billion to help extend high-speex Internet access services to rural areas. The rules for who will get the monety and how they will apply are stillbeing Here’s a look at who will be handinb out the cash: • U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration: $4.7 billion U.S. Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilitied Service: $2.5 billion
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