DAYDAY 0 22 Showshow Dailydaily Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Adelstein Seeks Round Two Applications for RUS Funding

Published by Beka Publishing

Á DAYDAY 0 22 ShowShow DailyDaily Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Adelstein seeks round two applications for RUS funding

omparing building broadband networks to every corner of the United States to COMPTEL elects Cthe 1930’s effort of providing electricity to all parts of the country, the Rural Utilities new board members Service Administrator encouraged members embers of COMPTEL yesterday elected of COMPTEL to apply for the second round of 12 companies to serve on the COMPTEL federal stimulus funding. MBoard of Directors for the 2010-2012 The former Federal Communications Commis- term during the association’s annual membership sioner Jonathan S. Adelstein said, “I have a new meeting. Joining the 15 others who are currently job and a lot of money to give away.” serving their 2009-2011 terms, the newly elected Adelstein was appointed by President Barack board members include: Obama last July to the RUS position. And Adel- stein had plenty of praise for the President and his Small Member Category administration. • FastTrack Communications - Steven Dorf, CEO “We can finally do what we’ve been talking • Fiber Tower - Kurt van Wagenen, President about doing for a long, long time,” Adelstein said. and CEO “And we have the support of a White House, from • STS Telecom - Keith Kramer, Executive the top on down. From the Vice President and Vice President Jonathan Adelstein the staff, because they all believe, as we do, that (See COMPTEL Elects, page 5) bringing broadband to all parts of the country is vital to our economy and vital to the growth of business.” ATLANTIC-ACM names U.S. Long Haul Wholesale Awards He added that President Obama believes that broadband connecting all parts of the country, TLANTIC-ACM, a telecommunica- 2010 Conference & Expo at the Gaylord Opry- including sparsely populated rural areas, is neces- tions research consultancy and bench- land in Nashville. sary to jumpstart the nation’s economy, because A marking firm, awarded its 2010 ATLAN- The awards reflect the results of the 2010 in the long term they will create more opportuni- TIC-ACM Awards for U.S. Long Haul Whole- edition of ATLANTIC-ACM’s U.S. Long Haul ties for people in the rural areas and will create a sale Carrier Excellence during the keynote Wholesale Carrier Report Card – the industry’s better quality of life. session Monday at the COMPTEL PLUS Spring principal customer satisfaction benchmarking (See Adelstain, page 5) (See ATLANTIC-ACM, page 5)

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Floor Plan COMPANY BOOTH #

24/7 Fiber Network 915 321 Communications 500 360networks 709 Accedian Networks Inc. 412 ADVA Optical Networking, Inc. 300 GES Banner Alliance Group Services, Inc. 812 American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) 422 Associated Network Partners, Inc. (ANPI) 523 BillSoft, Inc. 513 Broadvox 718 Brocade 800 BTI Systems 419 CABS Agent 721 Capacity Media 911 CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business 305 CenturyLink Wholesale Services 700 ChannelVision (Beka Publishing) 421 Charter Business 301 CHR Solutions, Inc. 804 Communications Data Group 527 Compliance Solutions, Inc. 418 COMPTEL 626 Core Tel Communications 310 CustomCall Data Systems, Inc. 519 CYAN 820 Dash Carrier Services 818 DCA Services, Inc. 613 DDR Broadband Networks 508 D-Link Systems, Inc. 312 DSET Corporation 521 Edison Carrier Solutions 808 Endstream Communications 512 Equinox Information Systems 515 FiberLight, LLC 306 GENBAND 611 GeoResults, Inc. 622 Glimmerglass 826 Hatteras Networks 313 Henkels & McCoy, Inc. 905 Homisco 608 IE - Dynetics 906 INDATELgroup 413 ENTRANCE Infinera Corporation 410 InterCall 707 InterMetro Communications, Inc. 507 International Telecoms Week (ITW) 913 Interstate FiberNet 609 Today’s Agenda Iowa Network Services 814 iQsim 819 IRIS Networks 723 KDL 612 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. – Knology, Inc. 518 LightRiver Technologies, Inc. 619 Board of Directors meeting Business Track: “Overcoming Objections” LightSpeed Technologies 710 Mapcom Systems 424 (Hermitage D) Regulatory Track: “Hot Topics at FCC” MRV Communications, Inc. 821 Technology Track: “Next Gen Networks: Nokia Siemens Networks US, LLC 908 Nortel 520 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Making a Smooth Shift to Packet-based Transport” Omnitron Systems Technology, Inc. 406 Optelian 909 COMPTEL PLUS Deal Center Overture Networks 822 Performance Technologies 307 Sponsored by: Charter Business, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. – Positron Fiber Systems 408 Power & Telephone Supply Co. 423 Interstate Fibernet, O1 Communications Business Track: “Cable and RLEC Entry into the Profitec Billing Services, Inc. 511 Qwest Communications 600 & Pac-West Telecomm CLEC Market” RAD Data Communications 802 RCN Metro Optical Networks 713 (Ryman Exhibit Hall B1) Regulatory Track: “Net Neutrality” Regulatory Back Office/GSAssociates 914 RNK Communications 411 Technology Track: “Wireless Backhaul” Sales Manage Solutions 425 Salestream Software 309 Member Lounge Sales Tax Associates, Inc. 525 Sandy Beaches Software 514 Sponsored by: Charter Business, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Sansay, Inc. 314 Intellifiber Networks COMPTEL PLUS Trade Expo in Ryman Exhibit Hall Sprint Nextel 400 SRP Telecom 407 (Ryman Exhibit Hall B1) Sunesys, LLC 420 Technologies Management, Inc. 900 6 to 8 p.m. – TelePacific Communications 401 TeleSphere Software 414 Sessions: Tuesday Night with Gabe Dixon TeliaSonera International Carrier 302 Telispire 807 Business Track in Tennessee B Sponsored by Arent Fox in Tennessee C Telsource Corporation 719 Thermo Credit, LLC 809 Regulatory Track in Tennessee D Transaction Clearing 620 TransNexus, Inc. 618 Technology Track in Tennessee A Wednesday’s Agenda UDP 606 US Signal 311 9 a.m. to noon – Regulatory Workshop Vertek Corporation 708 Windstream 901 Xtera Communications 526 ZONE Telecom 904

4 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 2

(Adelstein, continued from page 1) made in the process to make it easier to apply. “We’ve never had the resources to do this, but “We hope to target high caliber projects, so I (ATLANTIC-ACM, continued from page 1) we do today,” Adelstein pointed out. “Given the hope if you applied and didn’t get funded during study, based on more than 1,000 individual situation with the federal budget, this is a unique the first round, or if you didn’t apply during the carrier evaluations by their wholesale customers. opportunity for the rural areas.” first round, you will consider doing so during this Winners were: He said that during the first round of funding, second round,” he said. • AT&T: Brand, Network, Voice Product the RUS provided about 10 percent of the money “This has really been a key priority for our Quality, Data Product Quality it allocated to CLECS. Other applicants included Secretary [of Agriculture Tom] Vilsack and for • Qwest: Provisioning ILECS and wireless providers. President Obama to make sure that rural parts • Sprint: Provisioning In all, the RUS awarded more than $800 million of America have access … to the latest in broad- • XO: Sales Reps, Provisioning, Billing, in stimulus money to telecom companies. The band technology. Cutting-edge technology so Customer Service, Voice and Data Product Price, money is targeted for 22 broadband infrastructure that small businesses ... farmers and ranchers Data Quality projects in 18 states. can have up-to-date information,” Adelstein “For the second year in a row, we saw scores As the second round of funding takes place, emphasized. for product quality and operations improve Adelstein said even more money, $2.2. billion, is Lauding COMPTEL’s members for their while price satisfaction declined,” said ATLAN- available and will be awarded. The deadline to commitment to competition and innovation, he TIC-ACM president Fedor Smith. apply for the funds, which come in the form of said, “I hope you are as thrilled as we are about “The macroeconomic trends and pressures grants or loans, was extended until March 29. The this program. And we look forward to putting that impacted last year’s pricing scores remain administrator also said that some changes were broadband in all parts of the nation.” at play in this year’s scores,” Smith said. “Unlike last year, however, declines in price satisfaction were greater than satisfaction increases in other (COMPTEL Elects, continued from page 1) areas, signaling greater opportunities for price- Medium Member Category • EarthLink (New Edge Networks) - Penny H. based wholesalers to capture share.” • Alpheus Communications - Paul Hobby, Bewick, Vice President - External Affairs Boston-based ATLANTIC-ACM serves the Chairman and CEO • Sprint - Dan Dooley, President, Sprint telecommunications and information indus- • Hypercube - Ron Beaumont, Founder and CEO Wholesale Solutions tries. In addition to producing the industry’s • Lightyear Network Solutions - J. Sherman • tw telecom - Don Shepheard, Vice President, principal benchmarking, sizing and opportunity Henderson III, President and CEO Federal Regulatory Affairs and Policy studies, the company assists clients in evalu- • Zayo Group - Scott E. Beer, General Counsel ating telecommunications opportunities for • Zone Telecom - Dan Boynton, President During today’s board meeting, the successful investment, market entry and long- and CEO COMPTEL Board of Directors will elect the term planning. association’s new chairman, vice chairman, For information, visit ATLANTIC-ACM’s Web Large Member Category treasurer and at-large members of the Execu- site at www.atlantic-acm.com. • Cbeyond - Julia Strow, Co-Founder tive Committee.

MountainClimber_ComptelDaily.indd 1 3/10/2010 1:47:07 PM Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 5 Day 2 Mobile apps drive bandwidth demand

he fast growing demand for wireless smart • Industry Participation – There are many ways Mudry added, “Responding to and supporting phones, laptop data cards and other mobile for fiber services providers to participate in the aggressive 3G and 4G deployment plans of the Tdevices is driving explosive growth in band- this fast growing market from building fiber to wireless carriers will be the primary driver of the width requirements at cellular towers. And as the cell sites to partnering with other backhaul wireless backhaul providers. Having additional wireless carriers upgrade their networks to 3G and operators to get a piece of the pie. broadband facilities alternatives for backhaul 4G technologies, needs for backhaul connectivity Mudry said he believes the Federal Commu- may provide deployment alternatives by helping from cell towers to mobile switching centers are nications Commission understands what is changing rapidly. happening and that its National Broadband Plan Technology Track “Wireless backhaul is a hot topic in our – scheduled to be released today – will be compre- Wireless Backhaul industry right now,” said Ron Mudry of Tower hensive in addressing a host of broadband technol- Tennessee A, 9:30 a.m. Cloud, who will lead a panel on the topic at 9:30 ogies including DSL, cable modems, fiber, wireless, a.m. today. “From 4G to WiMAX to long term satellite and broadband over power lines. to reduce costs and broaden reach. However, it evolution (LTE), this is a fast growing segment of all comes down to making the investment now to the market. This panel will address the changing upgrade infrastructure networks with technology needs of wireless carriers and how companies in that will support the long term.” many areas of telecom can benefit from serving “From 4G to As the 4G race heats up with Verizon intro- this fast growing marketplace.” ducing and testing LTE, Mudry said that the wire- Because of the importance of wireless to the WiMAX to long term less backhaul provider business models allow for changing telephony landscape, Mudry said that the support of both LTE and WiMAX standards. anyone attending COMPTEL PLUS will enjoy the evolution (LTE), “With the size, financial strength and technical panel, adding that “wireless carrier executives, this is a fast competence of the major wireless carriers and metro fiber service providers, backhaul focused their partners lined up behind each technology, companies and long haul carriers will all benefit growing segment the most likely scenario is that both will be from attending this session.” around for the fforeseeable future,” said Mudry. He said that he believes that attendees will take of the market.” Of course the driver of backhaul providers’ away a number of things from the panel discus- growth is the continuous development of sion including: Ron Mudry of Tower Cloud applications. • Aggressive Growth – It’s no secret that 4G “Apps available on the iPhone, the Droid and network evolution is driving the significant other smart phones help make these devices growth in backhaul capacity demand. Band- “It will establish specific objectives and priori- essential tools in today’s connected world,” Mudry width needs at many cell sites are growing ties over a number of years, and it may make new said. “The smart phone user simply wants their – from the handful of T1s today to 25-50 mega- broadband facilities available for wireless back- app to be available wherever they are, whenever bits by next year. Capacity is expected to grow haul providers to consider in their deployment they need it, and they want it to work as if it were to 100-300 megabits over the next three to five planning,” Mudry said. connected to a broadband wireline network. years, which means even more demand for He continued, “Increasing the available In order to make this happen wireless back- infrastructure upgrade and growth. network capacity to carriers at locations in haul networks must be expanded and their • Demand – The demand for backhaul capacity will the wireless network where the most demand capacity increased. The impact of application continue to grow at an exponentially high rate for for 3G and 4G services originates helps shore development on technology is a big push forward. the next few years placing additional demands up short-term needs. Identifying the priority We should not overlook that future applications throughout carrier networks. Wireless applica- markets and cell locations is a significant fore- will include machine-to-machine direct commu- tions clearly drive demand, and we are still very casting challenge for the carriers and one which nication further increasing backhaul demand,” early in the development of applications. will likely change quickly.” Mudry said.

6 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 2 Verizon Wholesale focuses on small, medium-sized businesses

t a time when small and medium-sized In addition to providing access to Verizon’s email traffic, transferring large files or hosting businesses look for every technological expansive IP local network and its telephone Web sites from anywhere. A advantage to help them continue as the number inventory, wholesale customers can The package, based on T1 technology, fundamental economic growth engine in the offer small and medium-sized businesses a new combines 24 channels of broadband signal into United States, Verizon is providing support with NEC UNIVERGE SV8100 IP PBX and its associ- a 1.544 Mbps service, with customer equip- two new VoIP and Internet packages available ated installation and maintenance bundle at a ment available to enable the service. Quality of through the Verizon Global Wholesale division. discount, simplifying the setup and lowering service (QoS) assurance is offered as an option, The offers are designed to respond to the the cost of entry into the IP market. This at an additional cost. QoS is important for busi- rapid growth of VoIP in the small business enables small and medium-sized businesses nesses that consolidate voice, video and key realm and the resulting demand for powerful to work with a single vendor, receive one bill business applications onto a converged high-speed Internet connections. In addition, and gain access to a feature-rich VoIP solution IP network. the offers support Verizon Global Wholesale that delivers cost reductions and the promise of Equipment offered in the package is either a customers’ marketing efforts to small and medi- increased productivity. Samsung Ubigate iBG 1000 for data-only applica- um-sized businesses. The SIP connection and NEC UNIVERGE tions or a model 1003 for data and voice services “By creating new VoIP and Internet pack- SV8100 PBX are priced at a discount with this new combined. ages that include both services and hardware, package, which is simple, feature rich and offered “This package is about robust ‘pipes’ and we’re giving our wholesale customers new at competitive prices. powerful hardware with the hassles removed ways to support their small and medium-sized A second new package, Internet Dedicated from the process,” said Lew. “Giving our whole- business customers in a time when every T1, combines service and hardware. It provides sale customers a turnkey option they can deliver nickel and every efficiency counts toward a high-capacity connection for 30 or more users to bandwidth-hungry businesses works for success,” said Quintin Lew, senior vice presi- and is designed for transmitting high-volume everyone, all-around.” dent of marketing for Verizon Global Whole- sale. “Our goal continues to be to arm our wholesale customers with the tools that help them to help small and medium-sized busi- Homisco announces winners nesses succeed.” omisco congratulates the winners of its Homisco drew more winners Monday and The first new package, Verizon’s SIP Gateway HSunday booth drawing. will select some today. Stop by booth No. 608 and Service, transports VoIP traffic between packet-based • The Marconi Gold and Silver coin set went to drop off a business card to enter. IP networks and the traditional telephone network, Nayan Patel, VoicePulse Homisco is a global provider of telecommunica- allowing Verizon Global Wholesale’s customers to give • Original Marconi Wireless Stock Certificate tions solutions for carriers and enterprises, with more small and medium-sized businesses a quick and easy went to Kelly Sparks, Pac-West. than 1,400 customers in 100 countries worldwide. way to get into the VoIP world.

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 7 Day 1 TeleBill signs agreement with BillSoft

illSoft Inc. announced that TeleBill their carrier costs. With TeleBill, companies can Inc., an outsourced billing services improve in each area. Bprovider, has reached agreement with BillSoft will provide TeleBill its tax rating to the company to provide tax rating on Telebill’s ensure accuracy and speed. communications services in a real-time billing “We were impressed with BillSoft’s EZTax plat- and taxing environment. form and its ability to tax all kinds of telecommu- TeleBill’s unique billing software has evolved to nications services in real-time,” said Paul Tucci, handle the latest in VoIP and converged solutions TeleBill’s president and founder. “And the remote- while still being able to support legacy products. hosted EZTax ASP application was a perfect fit Revenue Assurance The TeleBill solution provides flexibility at with our outsourced business model.” an affordable price, making it well-suited for BillSoft’s President Vicki Klein added, “It’s a Carrier Access Billing small to mid-sized telecommunications carriers great partnership between two companies that that may not have the resources to maximize deliver standout solutions. By coming together, Mediation their revenues through billing or to minimize you can expect bigger and better things.” Software Services RiverRock rocks Pac-West’s rating, Consulting billing platform

866-TSPHERE ac-West Telecomm, a provider of advanced growth opportunities and to create an excep- www.telespheresoftware.com wholesale telecommunications services, tional customer experience.” Pchose RiverRock Systems’ RADIX flagship Pac-West’s vice president of business operations software suite to replace its existing rating and Shelly Hendrix added, “We needed to improve the billing platforms. efficiency of our billing processes while consoli- RiverRock supplies operational and business dating our internal applications. support systems for integrated communica- “We are very pleased with the suite of solutions tions providers. being provided by RiverRock Systems,” she said. “With RiverRock’s integrated CRM and billing “What they have to offer made it very easy for us solution, Pac-West will be able to further to move forward with our business strategy.” Stop by Booth 414 streamline its back office operations, focus on RiverRock RADIX ASP delivers a high value to visit with TeleSphere and core competencies and grow without limits,” optimized solution to create a tailored offering said David Thompson, president of River- based on a service provider’s business. River- to pick up your FREE issue Rock Systems. “We have a great relationship Rock’s industry and operational experts use of the Daily Access with Pac-West and are pleased to provide the proven processes to manage the customer’s systems needed for Pac-West to seek new back office. Quarterly Review. Arbinet deploys Customer Based Routing

rbinet Corporation announced Monday at 1,100 service providers and network operators THEDAILY ACCESS COMPTEL PLUS convention & EXPO that that are connected to Arbinet’s network, ACS Special Ait has introduced into its network a new offers a number of grades of service ranging Edition level of routing flexibility for its Arbinet Carrier from an aggressively priced wholesale table to a QUARTERLYREVIEW Services (ACS) customers. recently announced Premium Mobile table with Customer Based Routing lets a service direct termination to more than 250 fixed and www.dailyaccessquarterly.com provider or carrier customer select from mobile network operators and guaranteed CLI multiple grades of service for each destination transmission and delivery to terminating network over a single trunk group. A carrier can choose suppliers,” he added. The DAQR is your source for revenue routes with guaranteed CLI delivery and mobile “Customer Based Routing is the latest innova- assurance insights with CABS Corner subscriber roaming number (MSRN) support tion to be deployed in our network. It enables and Mediation Matters, as well as from Arbinet’s Premium Mobile routing table our sales team to customize routing for each for destinations where its customers need the customer based on the customer’s unique needs,” relevant telecom industry information. highest quality of service with advanced features. Powdermaker explained. On the same trunk group, it can choose more Arbinet offers three ways for carriers and Also, try the Telephony crossword aggressively priced routes from Arbinet Quality or service providers to originate and terminate Value routing tables for destinations where cost is international voice traffic. and follow the Captain Advantage story the most important attribute in route selection. And Arbinet Carrier Services is a standard whole- as he fights the Fraudulent Four. if it needs caller line identity (CLI) delivery, but not sale trading product with no fees, a single invoice MSRN support, it can select routes from Arbinet’s and rate lock. It uses supplier codes in its whole- Don’t miss an issue: Subscribe Today! Premium table. sale routing plans. “We set as a goal for ourselves in 2009 to Thexchange is the industry’s leading market- leverage the technology at the core of our voice place for buying and selling voice communica- network and increase the flexibility with which tions where customers and suppliers use sophis- we work with the marketplace,” said Dan Powder- ticated tools to view market data and trade traffic. maker, senior vice president, sales & marketing. PrivateExchange is an easy to use, low-risk “We launched Carrier Services, a traditional outsourcing approach that enables service wholesale way of working with customers and providers to create virtual direct routes and suppliers. Utilizing supply from the more than aggregate existing interconnects.

8 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 2 Pangaea launches dedicated 10 GigE ring in New York City

angaea Networks, a niche Pangaea Networks plans to provider of carrier class expand the 10 GigE ring service to PEthernet local loop services include four primary data centers in the New York City and New in New Jersey with service avail- Jersey markets, launched its able in the third quarter. PANMetro Dedicated 10GigE Ring PANMetro Ethernet service service in Manhattan. enables nearly any end customer With the multi-gig service plat- the ability to leverage Ethernet form, carriers and end users can technology to obtain dedicated deploy multiple Ethernet circuits local access. with capacities greater than 1 GigE In addition to providing fiber on a single port, over their own based, high capacity, carrier grade private dedicated, Layer 2, 10 GigE metro Ethernet solutions, Pangaea wireline infrastructure. Networks converts legacy network “Scalability and portability connections, such as TDM and are the two main drivers behind SONET to Ethernet over a wide the PANMetro 10 GigE platform,” area, stretching from Connecticut said Kevin Black, vice presi- to Southern New Jersey. dent of business development The company provides Ethernet at Pangaea Networks. “Service access to more than 2,700 enter- providers and end users with prise buildings and interconnec- high capacity IP and data traffic tivity to nearly all of the New York require an Ethernet platform metro area’s data center and collo- that can scale beyond GigE, with cation facilities. the ability to easily load balance Pangaea Networks is a pioneer The Only Source for traffic between data centers and in the deployment of managed meet me rooms. Ethernet services from the enter- “By collocating in just one site, prise market to select carrier hotels PANMetro 10 GigE users can now and data centers. Pangaea uses a access hundreds of customers and combination of Ethernet network other service providers over their to network interfaces, leading edge INTEGRATED own private, diversely routed, customer premise equipment and protected 10 GigE ring, without proprietary dark fiber networks to the need for additional rack space rapidly provision metro Ethernet and power within those other transport solutions to carrier and BILLING facilities,” he added. enterprise customers. & OSS TeliaSonera beefs up network in U.S. Now offering the eliaSonera International TeliaSonera delivers IP, capacity Visit Carrier has increased the and voice services and also provides Our Booth most complete Tpossibilities for new and the media, education and online solution in the existing customers in the U.S. to gaming industries with services benefit from availability of high- tailored to their specific needs. #519 marketplace! quality IP services and the ability It owns and operates more than to connect to Europe’s largest and 43,000 kilometers (27,000 miles) of fastest-growing IP backbone. Telia- fiber network, which covers more Sonera has been active in the U.S. than 100 points of presence in 35 market since 1995. countries across Europe, the U.S. “We are giving our customers and Asia. new possibilities to connect to our “In light of the TeliaSonera group IP backbone via Buffalo, Cleveland being one of the largest operators in Two Trusted Partners and Washington, D.C.,” said Anna Europe with more than 150 years in Mossberg, vice president and head the business and with 150 million Are Now One of product and business manage- mobile subscribers, we believe our ment for TeliaSonera. “This further customers in the U.S. are consid- expansion in the U.S. network will ering us being a very competitive Contact us today! be strategically important if we are alternative”, said Mossberg. www.customcall.com to fulfill our ambition to become For more information, stop by one of the three largest global booth 302 or visit www.teliason- (608) 274-3009 IP carriers.” eraic.com.

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9 Day 2 Show me the money Telcoms, some COMPTEL members, receiving stimulus bucks

he U.S. Department of Agriculture million for 22 broadband projects. The Agriculture cross the country. announced earlier this month that it has Department will allocate $2.5 billion in stimulus The grants are expected to increase broad- Ttargeted $310 million in stimulus money money for broadband programs. In a second band access and adoption in California, Florida, to bring high-speed Internet connections to 14 round of funding the Agriculture Department will Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, West rural communities nationwide. Several COMPTEL focus on projects that provide “last-mile” connec- Virginia and Wisconsin. members are receiving a share of that pie. tions that link homes, businesses and other end The 10 grants, totaling $357 million, will bring “This big batch of projects will create urgently users to the Internet. high-speed Internet access to millions of house- needed jobs now and also build networks that holds and businesses and link up thousands of will fuel rural economic development for years to come,” said Jonathan Adelstein, the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service Adminis- trator, which awards the funding. “This big batch of projects will The awarded allocations include: create urgently needed jobs now and • $88.1 million grant and loan to an Alaskan telecommunications company that will build also build networks that will fuel “middle mile” networks to connect 65 towns rural economic development for and villages in southwestern Alaska to the Internet. years to come.” • A $19.1 million grant and loan to a Missouri Jonathan Adelstein, Rural Utilities Service Administrator, electric cooperative to build a fiber-optic network that reaches nearly 5,000 homes, businesses, public safety entities and commu- Et tu Commerce? schools, hospitals, libraries and public safety nity organizations in rural Missouri In the meantime, the National Telecommu- offices to the information superhighway. • A $3.9 million grant to a unit of TDS Telecom- nications and Information Administration, an “In a globalized 21st Century economy, when munications Corp. to build a digital subscriber arm of the Commerce Department, will award you don’t have regular access to the Internet, line network to serve homes, businesses and an additional $4.7 billion in stimulus funding for you don’t have access to all the educational and community institutions in sparsely populated broadband. employment opportunities it provides,” Locke parts of Alabama. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke earlier said during an address in Pennsylvania. “Fast, reli- • A $376,000 grant and loan to a telephone this month announced 10 American Recovery able Internet can help keep communities safer, company to build a WiMAX network to nearly and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge open doors for small businesses and provide job 325 homes in northeast Iowa. the technological divide, boost economic growth, training and skills to more Americans. Over the The Rural Utilities Service has doled out $363.7 create jobs and improve education and healthcare long-term, enabling our people to create new products and new ways of doing business will help communities throughout the country get onto a sustainable growth path, and that’s what NEW! Financial Management & the Recovery Act is all about.” “The level of interest in this program has been Accounting Solution Designed for extraordinary, and is yet another indicator of the critical role broadband plays in achieving durable, Telecommunications Companies! sustainable economic growth,” Assistant Secre- tary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling said. “The strongest proposals are the ones that have taken a truly comprehensive view of the communities to be served and have engaged as many key members of the communities as possible in developing the projects.” Your OSS & Billing Partner Fair share As one example, Lynx Network Group of Since 1964 Michigan and its public and private partners were awarded funding to create a rural fiber optic Access Billing • End User Billing network through underserved areas of Michigan. Switch Provisioning • Sales Campaign Management The network will provide high performance, Comprehensive Reports • Integrated Mapping & Taxation low-cost Internet access to rural areas. Fiber funding will help to attract and to retain jobs and EBPP & Customer Self-Care • Telecom-Based Accounting Solution businesses that demand advanced communica- Processing Records for 850+ Telcos • Wholesale Billing Support tions in order to remain competitive. For the project, Lynx has partnered with Merit Network Inc, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization Partner with the most experienced whose mission is to provide advanced networking services to the research and education commu- Billing & OSS team in the industry nity throughout Michigan. According to Chris Barber, principal at Lynx www.udp.com 800.417.4493 Network Group, “our collaboration with our non-profit partner was the key to the successful Visit us at COMPTEL - Booth #606 grant award.” Lynx Network Group will own the fiber © 2010 UDP, Inc. network and sell services to carriers, ISPs, CLECs,

10 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 2

and ILECs, while Merit will focus on of our existing strategy of delivering public entities. high capacity transport network The $33 million Lynx received services to unserved and under- also will provide 40 new jobs. The served areas of New York State.” planned network is expected to serve communities throughout the More, more, more Northern, Western and Southern Other grants and loans given boundaries of Michigan’s Lower to COMPTEL members through Peninsula, as well as Mid-Michigan. NTIA’s Broadband Technology Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said, Opportunities Program (BTOP) “This funding provides a tremen- and the RUS Broadband Initiatives dous boost to our region, helping a Program (BIP) include: homegrown business expand and • DeltaCom Inc. – $9.4 million create jobs in an effort to deliver broadband infrastructure grant broadband to countless families, with an additional $2.3 million businesses, schools, libraries and applicant-provided match health centers across the state.” for a 544-mile high-capacity Lynx and its partners will build fiber-optic broadband network 955 miles of fiber optic cable which that will provide high-speed will deliver advanced communica- connections for more than 50 tions to local, regional and national community anchor institu- services providers, bringing services tions in five Eastern Tennessee to undeserved, rural communities. communities, from Chatta- Lynx is a premier wholesale and nooga through Knoxville to retail provider of telecommunica- Johnson City and Bristol. tion services in the Midwest, utilizing • Great Works Internet (Biddeford direct sales and agent channels to sell Internet Corp.) – $25.4 million to the newest, always changing tech- create an open access fiber-optic Save money on international wholesale call nologies in voice and data services. network extending to the most termination to GSM through the IRON Suite It operates as niche provider of intra- rural and disadvantaged areas of product. By deploying “SIM less” IP/GSM gateways state data services to wireless and the state of Maine. you can manage your SIM cards more efficiently and wireline (fiber-based) carriers. • Mid-Atlantic Broadband precisely.

“In a globalized 21st Century economy, when you don’t have regular access to the Internet, you don’t have access to all the educational and employment opportunities it provides.” Gary Locke, U.S. Commerce Secretary

ION New York Cooperative – $16 million to Given $39.7 million, ION will expand a fiber network directly The IRON Suite is composed of 3 bundled products: build HoldCo LLC, a partnership connecting 121 K-12 schools owned by Sovernet Communica- in Southern Virginia. The  IRON SIM Manager tions (a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele- company also received another  IRON Call Manager Network Inc.) and 12 indepen- $5.5 million in partnership with  dent rural telephone companies the Virginia Tech Foundation IRON Profile Manager in New York, announced it will to construct a 110-mile open augment its existing 2,200 mile access fiber network between Learn more on how iQsim can help lower your fiber network with 1,300 miles of Blacksburg in Montgomery international calling rates by contacting us today. additional fiber-optic middle-mile County, Va., to Bedford City in broadband network. Bedford County in its Allegheny The ION Upstate New York Fiber Project. Rural Broadband Initiative will be • TDS – RUS awards of $8.6 million CALL: +33 497 041 938 completed in partnership with the to expand broadband access in Development Authority of the North Northern Michigan, plus the $3.9 Visit us at COMPTEL BOOTH #819 Country (DANC) and will enable million for a similar project in in Nashville, March 14-16 high speed Internet access to under- Clarke County, Ala. served communities throughout • Zayo Bandwidth LLC – $25.1 upstate New York, along with parts of million broadband infrastructure Vermont and Pennsylvania. grant with an additional $10.7 An additional $9.9 million will be million applicant-provided match invested in the project by ION and to directly connect 21 Ivy Tech DANC. Community College campuses “This is great news for our great to the state’s existing high-speed state,” said ION CEO James Becker. network for education and “This grant facilitates the extension research in Indiana. www.iQsim.com

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 11 Day 2 Lightyear goes public BillSoft wins gold illSoft Inc., a market leader for transac- ightyear Network Solutions LLC, a nation- organic and acquisition growth,” he said. “We are tion-based taxation, won the gold, as in wide telecom services provider, recently actively seeking to acquire multiple small to mid- Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, with a became a public company through a size competitors throughout the U.S. where we B L special competency in ISV/Software Solutions. reverse merger with Libra Alliance Corp., a shell can anticipate significant demand for Lightyear’s Achieving gold status means BillSoft has company and former ISP. service offerings.” the highest level of expertise and command of As a result of the merger, Lightyear, which In addition to Henderson, four new members Microsoft technologies for software develop- began operations in 1993 as UniDial in Louisville, were named to the board of the public company. ment. A plaque signifying this status will hang in Ky., became Libra’s principal operating company. the lobby of BillSoft’s headquarters. Libra trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under “We are actively seeking to acquire As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, BillSoft the stock name “LBAL.” The Lightyear name will multiple small to midsize competitors will have gold-level access to Microsoft tools, continue to be used. throughout the U.S. where we can resources, plus priority technical assistance — Founder, president and CEO J. Sherman anticipate significant demand for all through ISV/Software Solutions. This will be Henderson III and other Lightyear backers own a Lightyear’s service offerings.” invaluable as BillSoft software engineers inter- majority of Libra’s stock. Henderson will be CEO Sherm Henderson, Lightyear CEO face with Microsoft on a daily basis. Now these and a member of the board of directors of the engineers will have the closest possible working public company. relationship with Microsoft. “We are very pleased with the completion of They are: Rick Dees, the nationally recognized “It’s really a recognition of our development this transaction as it positions us to broaden our radio broadcaster; Chris Sullivan, founder of process,” said Brian Cronin, BillSoft Systems investor base, financially support an accelerated the Outback Steakhouse restaurant company; Engineer Director. “And with the gold status, growth plan and implement a focused acquisi- Ron Carmicle, president of Louisville’s River City we’ll have even more access to Microsoft prod- tion strategy,” said Henderson, a former six-term Development Corp.; and Brent Rice, an attorney ucts and people during the software develop- chairman of industry association COMPTEL. and longtime partner in the firm of McBrayer, ment cycle.” Henderson also was selected as one of the Top McGinnis, Leslie and Kirkland in Lexington, Ky. BillSoft’s goal is to design best-in-class 25 Most Influential People in Telecommunications. Lightyear’s product portfolio includes: local products like EZTax and combining them “The main focus for Lightyear will be PRI and digital T1, enhanced Internet services, with the service and support for which the continuing to service the telecommunications frame relay, MPLS, point-to-point, VoIP, local and company is known. needs of our approximately 60,000 business and long-distance, calling cards and conferencing. “It’s an honor to be named a Microsoft Gold residential customers utilizing our independent Lightyear also has begun offering wireless services Certified Partner,” said Vicki Klein, BillSoft presi- national sales force of Lightyear Agent Partners. to customers in the U.S. through milestone dent. “It’s a testament to who we are, what we’ve “Management intends to increase Lightyear’s wholesale contracts with multiple tier 1 wireless accomplished and what we’re capable of.” revenue and earnings via a combination of providers.

DCA announces wholesale DeB_c_ji billing, rating product

8h[Wa_d]j^[8Whh_[hie\ holesale carriers billing provider. JhWZ_j_edWbJ[b[YecI[hl_Y[i frequently are concerned In each step, the records in and Wabout “black holes” in out are accounted for and each call their rating and billing processes. record is tracked from the origi- C_Y^_]Wd=hWdj7mWhZM_dd[h\ehDJ?7ºi8heWZXWdZ Are we dropping call records on the nating carrier through each desti- J[Y^debe]oEffehjkd_j_[iFhe]hWc8JEF floor that come from our carriers? nation and on to its billing provider. Are we delivering everything to Accompanying this platform is a FWhjd[hm_j^ki_\oekWh[W our billing provider? Is our billing series of Management Information 97HH?;H"?IF"9B;9"?B;9"ehH;I;BB;H provider billing out everything that Reports that will allow you to track m^eZe[iXki_d[ii_dC_Y^_]Wd is sent to them? file transfers and record counts at DCA SwitchYard takes the each point in the collection and guesswork out of the CDR collec- dissemination process. tion, rating and billing process These reports can be broken LYNX with its proprietary standalone out by file, time period, sending Network Group, LLC platform that takes mediated or or receiving party, incomplete or non-mediated call records from unbillable or period over period www.goLNG.com | 1.877.585.5969 | [email protected] switches and other carriers then comparisons. ® Twitter/BroadbandMI | Linked Broadband Michigan-REACH 3MC categorizes them into records that The reports are available for are or aren’t billable based on the viewing online or can be exported client’s rules. for in-depth analysis. SwitchYard then passes the For more information, visit DCA call records to the client’s fraud Services at booth No. 613; go to management system, or other www.dcaservices.com or phone third-party vendors, and then to the 405-951-9300.

See you September 12 - 15 at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com 12 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday,W 4.8" x 6.75 March H 16, 2010

8801 Lynx ComptelPlus 4th Pg Ad3 | 3.5.10 | je @allied-art.com Day 2 Proximiti unleashes TRAKR Solutions

roximiti Communications Inc. WorkTRAKR software is used by is making WorkTRAKR and many users that bill time such as PCellTRAKR software available attorneys, accountants and others, Booth #608 at Comptel to business users and has the capa- but it also is a great tool for those  Looking for voice applications that generate new revenues? bility of offering the services as part using CRM packages such as sales-  Need infrastructure or operations solutions that deliver more value? of branded or standalone offerings force.com. Then visit booth #608 and see how Homisco can help you. to partner companies. WorkTRAKR is integrated with

WorkTRAKR software is installed many legal management software on user mobile smart phones, more companies allowing for single than 250 office phone systems, click billing from any of the typical Carrier-Class Cloud Solutions* personal computers and laptops user devices. Users report higher Premium Niche Services offering companies and users the revenues and lower administra-  Voice Systems Continuity ability to log almost any event tive costs. Other users benefit from  Hosted Hotel PBX from phone calls, emails, use of PC the automatic logging of all activi-  Hosted Hotel Call Accounting programs, Web site usage and sched- ties so they can easily enter data  Hosted Business Call Accounting uled meetings in Outlook and create into other management systems detailed user time sheets. relating to activities and time CellTRAKR can track mobile management needs. Call Center Services user activity, ensuring compliance Logging features of WorkTRAKR  Hosted Call Center Recorder with company policies such as no are included, but it also has features  Hosted ACD (Best of Show, ITEXPO EAST 2009) texting while driving, location-based such as location-based tracking,  Hosted IVR w/GUI Flow Tool tracking and security tools, whether exception reporting for users’ texting or not the user is on a corporate plan or calling while in motion and the General Business Services or is reimbursed by the company for ability for company administrators  mobile phone usage. to clear proprietary data from lost or Hosted Centrex & Wireless Centrex Integrating communications stolen phones remotely.  Hosted Answering Services activity with business manage- Services can be delivered directly  Hosted Voicemail Plus w/ Self-Serve IVR ment tools is increasingly complex or white-labeled depending on the placing heavy burdens on users business arrangements. that may not be met, said Gregg WorkTRAKR and CellTRAKR are Carrier Infrastructure Solutions* Smith, CEO of Proximiti Commu- offered as software as a service model  Billing Systems for Converged Services nications. “WorkTRAKR and Cell- with annual and monthly pricing  Mobile Commerce and Banking Platform TRAKR address these important options. Revenue sharing models are  needs and work on any carriers’ attractive for Proximiti partners. Mobile Messaging: SMSC, SMS Gateway, USSD phones, any PC and over 250 For information, visit www.prox-  Over-the-Air Functionality (wireless carriers) phone systems.” imiti.com. Why Choose Homisco  Value: We cater to small and mid-sized carriers, designing software to deliver Tier 1 features at Tier 3 costs.  Equipment Agnostic: Whatever you have today, or will have tomor- BillSoft’s accuracy recognized row, Homisco solutions just work.  Flexibility: From financing and flexible terms, to customization, illSoft Inc., the leader for certified) and determines whether an Homisco works with you . transaction-based taxa- address is in a special tax district or  Experience: 31 years in business, 1200 customers, 100 countries: Btion, announced the State unincorporated area. Chances are we can help you. of Florida Department of Revenue For communications and cable recertified it for accuracy with providers, this degree of accuracy assigning addresses to local tax has financial advantages. The recer- Homisco Drawings & Prizes jurisdictions. tification means whenever they use Visit Homisco in booth #608 for a chance to win: The recertification comes after EZGeo in Florida, they’re eligible to  an analysis by the State of Florida of receive a higher tax collection allow- A gold and silver coin set commemorating Guglielmo Marconi, Father of Wire- less Communications. BillSoft’s database and determined ance (.75 percent versus .25 percent)  An original Marconi Wireless Stock Certificate (cancelled), that it met the 95 percent require- and are granted the hold harmless ment in assigning street addresses, provision of the communication To qualify for the drawings, just drop off a business card with your top two or three product or service priorities for 2010 on the back. address ranges, post office boxes and services tax (CST). office box ranges to the proper local “This is great news for our tax jurisdictions. customers who do business in In reality, BillSoft achieved a Florida and for any communica- For Carrier Solutions, contact: higher than 98 percent rating. tions provider relying on EZGeo,” Lance Gomes This level of accuracy comes from said Vicki Klein, BillSoft presi- [email protected] an EZGeo product that correctly iden- dent. “It also gives kudos to our (866) 583-7193 x2320 tifies tax jurisdictions for commu- IT department that’s committed nications services across the United to maintaining the product goal * Carrier solutions available bundled or unbundled. Prefer to use client’s network, but not required. States. EZGeo also provides address while improving the functionality scrubbing to postal standards (CASS and performance.” Homisco, Inc. 99 Washington Street, Melrose MA www.homsico.com

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 13 Day 2 CustomCall, Concretio.com complete merger

ustomCall Data Systems Inc. and In the meantime, CustomCall also announced In addition, using the XML Web services inter- Concretio.com Inc. announced they closed that 360networks has signed a contract to use its face to AT&T gives carriers the option to bond to Con their merger. The two companies offer billing, OSS and customer acquisition solutions. AT&T’s OSS for all of its 22-state territory without complementary software and services to commu- 360networks will use CustomCall’s hosted Webtop the expense and time-consuming burden of estab- nications service providers in all segments of the BPM and Workflow BPM solutions to manage its lishing dedicated data connectivity to the ILEC. telephone, cable and wireless industries. billing, DID inventory, order management, number “This release will allow customers to benefit Operating under the CustomCall name, the porting, subscriber registrations and trouble tickets. from improved features and increased func- combined company will be a source for integrated “360networks continues to invest in its systems tionality in this new version,” said Williams. billing and OSS, offering a broader range of capabili- and services to better serve our customers,” said “Companies will now be able to process pre-order ties seamlessly and giving service providers a more Brady Adams, CTO of 360networks. “We turned and ordering transactions using the latest XML complete solution with less vendor integration. to CustomCall for their proven ability to help us version, and eliminating the need to order a dedi- The merged company will offer one-stop- further automate order entry, billing and other cated circuit to AT&T means we can get them in shopping for service providers’ billing, provi- back office procedures in a service oriented production much faster and with less cost.” sioning and OSS needs. design that allows us tremendous flexibility while Williams further went on to say, “During “Out-of-the-box, flow through provisioning improving value for our customers.” these times in the CLEC industry, companies are that is seamless and highly automated is one of “We are pleased to have a company of the searching for more cost efficient and quicker means the primary product goals of putting our busi- stature of 360networks become the latest client of acquiring customers, and they have found it with nesses together,” said CustomCall CEO Frank to embrace our solution set,” said Peregrine. the TRS application with its integration into the Peregrine. “CustomCall and Concretio have come “360networks has a deep network presence in CustomCall billing and OSS solutions.” together to offer the strongest and most complete the Western United States and over 12 years of solution for communications services providers.” experience in the telecommunications industry. Concretio’s former CEO Kevin Williams added, Our hosted solution will provide them with a Endstream deploys “The reaction of the marketplace has already vali- single database of record and a unified means for dated our decision to combine our businesses. bringing together disparate locations, business Sansay’s VSXi session It is clear that a comprehensive billing and OSS processes and third-party systems.” border controller solution, providing seamless integration from CustomCall also announced availability of order management and customer acquisition its TRS Ordering and Gateway Solution that is ansay, a provider of VoIP infrastructure though billing and customer care, is exactly what compliant with the new XML version for the systems, announced that Endstream carriers are looking for. We are even more excited 22-state AT&T region. SCommunications, a telecommunications than we expected by the opportunities we are CustomCall has converted its customers, service provider in the Unied States and inter- seeing, even at this very early stage.” both hosted and on-site, to the release. The new national markets, has deployed Sansay’s VSXi Williams remains with the merged company as version will allow CLECs to transition from EDI to session border controller to support its rapid executive vice president. XML before March 19, the deadline. growth trajectory. Endstream, a privately owned, New York City- based company founded in 2007, is a next-gener- ation carrier that provides customizable telecommunications services to wholesale, enterprise and mid-size business markets. Deploying the VSXi product gives the company a flexible, manageable solution to accommodate its high quarter-over- quarter average growth rate. “We interconnect with dozens of carriers that have their own unique requirements and specifications for how they want to do business” said Erik Levitt, Endstream’s CEO. “The Sansay VSXi provides us with unparalleled flexibility to configure our network on a per carrier basis. That combined with Sansay’s novel licensing on a per network basis makes the VSXi the most cost- effective SBC in the market, and that gives us a competitive advantage.” Sansay is introducing the VSXi, its third-gener- ation session border controller, at the COMPTEL PLUS 2010 Spring Convention & EXPO. The VSXi supports multiple applications including wholesale and retail voice services, peering, SIP trunking, video conferencing and prepaid calling. With more than eight years of field-tested experience and hundreds of service provider deployments, the VSXi is one of the most mature and advanced products in the market and uniquely tailored for COMP- TEL’s competitive carrier members. “Endstream is an innovative company that is pushing the envelope in telecommunications,” says Andy Voss, CEO of Sansay. “We’re pleased that Erik and his team selected the VSXi and that we’re able to meet their needs as they continue to scale rapidly.” COMPLTEL PLUS EXPO exhibitors share information about their products and services Sansay is located at booth No. 314 and Endstream can be found at booth No. 512. with attendees on the tradeshow floor.

14 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 2 Knology launches 50Mbps in Huntsville

nology Business Service bonding technology, which lever- Internet in Huntsville, Ala., is ages Knology’s existing high speed Kfaster than ever due to a free infrastructure. Additional features upgrade to the DOCSIS 3.0 platform. include security enhancements, Knology Business Internet such as support for 128 bit advanced customers will be able to experi- encryption security (AES), as well ence greater productivity thanks to as IPv6, the new Internet protocol increased bandwidth speeds of up addressing method already seen in to 50 Mbps on the downstream and many of today’s applications. 5 Mbps on the upstream. As part of this investment, “Huntsville businesses are Knology also is increasing the focused on improving efficiency upload speeds for Basic and Edge and maximizing resources,” said business customers to 1Mbps. Ron Johnson, vice president of “DOCSIS 3.0 can dramatically sales for Knology. “Now more than help to improve productivity for FREE FREE PARALLEL ever, businesses are looking for our customers by leveraging this BILLING RUNS ways to differentiate CONVERSIONS themselves while Knology’s Huntsville Service Levels keeping costs down. • Business Ultimate 50 Mbps down/5 Mbps up This system upgrade • Business Max 30 Mbps down/5 Mbps up puts both existing and • Business Select 16 Mbps down/2 Mbps up new Knology Business • Business Basic 8 Mbps down/1 Mbps up Internet customers at the highest level of speed, security and performance. This is the latest super fast and reliable upgrade by example of Knology being the first to Knology, and opening the door to bring leading edge technology to the new and emerging applications such Huntsville business community.” as video conferencing, telemedicine DOCSIS provides faster speeds and other business centric needs,” for all customers by using channel said Johnson.

PGi , Copper enter three-year wholesale agreement

Gi, a provider of meeting global reach, along with its broad and collaboration solutions, suite of market-leading audio and Phas established a three-year Web collaboration solutions, helps wholesale agreement with Copper companies like Copper grow their Conferencing. The agreement own businesses. allows Copper to market and sell The agreement between PGi and PGi’s audio and Web conferencing Copper Conferencing is designed solutions under the trusted Copper to support Copper’s On Demand Conferencing brand. audio services and to drive the “PGi is thrilled to be working development of joint efforts to with Carolyn Bradfield and Copper expand audio and Web collabora- Conferencing,” said Ralph Hawkins, tion solutions. Copper has invested senior vice president, PGiPartner considerable resources to automate Channel. “Our Partner Channel has the entire conferencing experience, grown with incredible momentum including a sophisticated online in the last few years, and this new account management system, agreement illustrates that we are online user training and automated committed to embracing our part- call technology. ners and working to make them “Copper Conferencing oper- more successful.” ates with a value system that is The PGi Partner Channel focused on putting our customers remains a key area of focus first,” said Carolyn Bradfield, and investment in 2010, as PGi chairman and CEO, Copper continues to provide global scale Conferencing. “PGi shares those and collaboration synergies for same values and is focused on resellers and agents around the innovation that will help us world. PGi’s record of customer continue to meet the needs of our support, high quality of service and growing customer base.”

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 15 Day 2 Thermo Credit provides funding to Access Point

hermo Credit LLC, a provider of finan- about the inner workings of the telecommunica- need capital to expand or improve their operations. cial services to the telecommunications tions industry and that made putting together a The company provides asset-based solu- Tindustry, announced the funding of a $4.5 transaction much easier than with lenders outside tions, loans, lines of credit and capital invest- million facility to North Carolina-based CLEC the industry.” ment programs to every segment of the tele- Access Point Inc. Thermo Credit is a financial services company communications market. For information, visit Access Point is a nationally certified CLEC to that is focused exclusively on the telecommunica- www.thermocredit.com or call Phil Pedone at large and medium-sized businesses and offers tions industry. It serves established providers that 843.762.3312. local and long distance, VoIP, integrated, Internet and managed data services. Phil Pedone, Thermo Credit’s vice president Cost Savings Drive Nitel Growth of sales said, “We are excited to be working with a company and management team the caliber itel, a nationally recognized provider of with a single partner, such as Nitel, therefore, of Access Point. I believe the facility we have put telecommunications network services, “just makes sense,” he continued. in place will allow them to take advantage of the Nannounced that it has signed its 67th Margins on off-net services are significantly tremendous growth opportunities their national carrier/reseller to its growing list of wholesale lower than what they are on a carrier’s own certification has provided.” clients. Nitel CEO Rick Stern said the signing is an network, so the ability to quickly survey multiple indication of a larger trend. networks through n-Tellisource, Nitel’s proprietary “Telecom providers have found that partnering database of network information, allows carriers to “ ... the facility we have put in with us is more cost-effective than buying off-net take advantage of the most cost-effective option, place will allow them to take services one carrier at a time,” said Stern. “Espe- says the company. This enables more flexibility in advantage of the tremendous cially in rural or out-of-the-ordinary locations – the sales process to increase margin or to present a growth opportunities their where our value is strongest – our clients improve more competitive price – increasing revenues and/ national certification their back office efficiency by procuring a multi- or profitability. has provided.” tude of off-net services from a single provider, and Carriers and resellers also have found that Phil Pedone, Thermo Credit vice president of sales they do it at a price that’s hard to beat.” working with Nitel has eliminated a significant Initiating a buying arrangement with a amount of work from their back office opera- carrier can be an arduous process, said Stern. tions. Working with one vendor allows carriers to Access Point’s CEO Richard Brown added, “When you multiply that process by dozens reallocate SG&A expense once used for negoti- “Working with Thermo Credit to define a program of providers a carrier might purchase off-net ating multiple MSAs, pricing multiple networks, that would meet Access Point’s capital needs services from – national carriers, small ILECs, managing provisioning and escalation procedures, today and well into the future has been a great regional providers – you’re talking about a managing and auditing multiple invoices and pleasure. They are extremely knowledgeable significant investment of resources.” Working tracking trouble tickets across multiple NOCs.

16 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com Day 1 FiberLight grows through Mid-Atlantic metros

iberLight LLC, an optical The new network will augment networking provider, did not FiberLight’s existing 123-mile Balti- Fallow 55 inches of snow in more network, and 299-mile Virginia Washington, D.C., and the Northern and D.C. networks by extending the Virginia areas prevent the company optical backbone past the downtown from providing connectivity to its business district to connect to the customers. growing Maryland cities of Columbia, Two weeks after record snows Elkridge, Greenbelt and Laurel, while hit the region earlier this year, an providing greater diversity to the Internet service provider based in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. region. Culpeper, Va., acquired a front-end Optical services clients can access loader to clear a path on his property dedicated connectivity to the major to construct the lateral, FiberLight IP peering points, data centers and officials said. carrier hotels located in Baltimore, FiberLight recently completed a Washington, D.C., and Northern 130-mile network linking Culpeper Virginia at speeds up to 10 Gig. to its robust 350-mile network in FiberLight provides Ethernet, D.C. and Maryland. wavelengths, IP, SONET and dark In the meantime, Fiberlight also fiber metro optical transport to has begun directional boring at the telecom carriers, government, large Baltimore/Washington Interna- enterprise, content providers and tional Thurgood Marshall Airport. Web-centric businesses. The 56-mile ring around the airport The company owns its 500,000 is a portion of a 100-mile planned mile network in key growth areas and expansion of FiberLight’s footprint offers robust metro networks in more in Baltimore and includes simulta- than 60 cities in Florida, Georgia, neous activity involving the rodding Maryland, Texas, Virginia and Wash- and roping of city conduit in down- ington, D.C., as well as intercity town Baltimore. network services nationwide. Tinet selects Hibernia Atlantic for 10G Wavelengths ibernia Atlantic, the only rity through diversity routing. diverse transAtlantic high- Hibernia operates the only Hbandwidth connectivity undersea cable crossing directly provider, announces today that from Ireland to Canada and the Tinet selected it to deliver multiple United States, thereby avoiding 10 Gbps wavelengths of capacity single points of failures, landing to and from Toronto, New York, point and backhaul routes, such as Dublin, London, Frankfurt and the U.K.’s Bude, Bristol and White- other major metro areas on Hiber- sands areas, and the waterways near nia’s private network. London and New York. Tinet, formerly the carrier arm of “As we further expand our network Tiscali Group, says it is the only global within the U.S. and globally, we have Visit us at COMPTEL carrier exclusively committed to the IP chosen to collaborate with compa- and Ethernet wholesale market. nies like Hibernia Atlantic who share BOOTH #721 With this additional capacity our common vision for the highest increase, Tinet can further offer level of customer support and quality its global wholesale customers transport services,” said Maurizio greater redundancy, diverse Binello, COO of Tinet. “We are pleased routing and access, thereby with the security and flexibility Call TODAY further enhancing its IP and that Hibernia provides and we look Ethernet service performance. forward to passing on this high quality (512) 338-0000 The capacity increase is the performance to our customers.” result of rising customer demand for Hibernia Atlantic’s executive vice wholesale services, such as Ethernet president of sales and marketing Eric private lines, VPLS and IP transit. Gutshall added, “Hibernia Atlantic This increase also is in line with is an attractive option for global Tinet’s previously announced expan- companies like Tinet requiring sion plans. The company intends broad reach, innovative services and to invest in its network, including high-level operational and network deploying a third network opera- performance. Hibernia offers Tinet a tions center in the United States. diverse cable connection to Europe Tinet has selected Hibernia and North America, which is flexible Atlantic, a long-time network enough to grow and support Tinet partner of the company, as and its customers’ increasing band- www.cabsagent.com Hibernia offers additional secu- width demands.

Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 17 Day 2 Explore the floor: Doing business and networking take part when the COMPTEL PLUS Convention & EXPO trade show floor is open to attendees. Each vendor and booth has its own unique way of doing business and some have great giveaways.

Bruce Christian Editor, COMPTEL Plus Show Daily [email protected]

Martin Vilaboy Editor-in-Chief, ChannelVision magazine [email protected]

Percy Zamora Art Director [email protected]

Jen Vilaboy Ad Trafficking [email protected]

Berge Kaprelian Group Publisher [email protected]

Suzanne Urash Creative Designer/Marketing [email protected]

Harry Butler Show Photographer

Beka Publishing

Berge Kaprelian President and CEO

Philip Josephson General Counsel

Jim Bankes Business Accounting

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COMPTEL offers an Annual Unlimited Job Posting opportunity in the COMPTEL Career Center. COMPTEL members can post as many jobs as they would like for $295 a year. For non-members, the cost is $495. Each job is listed for 30 days and is promoted in the COMPTEL Connection e-newsletter for three consecutive weeks. For more information, contact Anna Bayer at 202-296-6650 or e-mail abayer@ comptel.org.

18 COMPTEL Plus | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Beka Publishing, www.bekapublishing.com ¹?jhiWZXVjhZVWjh^cZhh ^hhbVaaZgYdZhc¼ibZVc ^i^hc¼ildgi]^begZhh^c\#º ¸A^\]inZVgCZildg`Hdaji^dch8:D! ?#H]ZgbVc=ZcYZghdc>>>

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© Copyright 2009 Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. FLASHWAVE® is a trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. (USA) FUJITSU (and design)® are trademarks of Fujitsu Limited. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

We Can Think of a Better Place for Your Money.

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