Today’s OSP professionals have the gift (and the related curse) of needing to know a little bit about everything and a lot about their particular area of expertise. This final series of questions showcases the breadth of knowledge leaders in our industry must now possess. They must understand the impact of tablet usage on the never-ending mobile data tsunami. They must start to understand how home automation and the SmartGrid will play into their jobs. They even must have a peripheral view of the mergers in the marketplace and where those will lead them next in their career.

It ain’t easy being them. 

That’s why we have our Thought Leaders commenting on these very things. In this final installment of our Thought Leaders series, we ask our executives to share their ideas about the above and the implications those things have on the folks in the OSP.

So, whether you feel like you know it all or know very little, take a moment to read what these leaders have to say about these topics. It might just help you form your own opinions…and make you even more valuable to your company -- and yourself!

This year’s Thought Leader Forum includes:
1. Joe DiMelis, Vice President - Construction & Engineering - Midwest AT&T Network Operations, AT&T
2. Darrick Zucco, VP & GM - Consumer Market, Cincinnati Bell
3. Randall Frantz, Director Telecommunications and LBS Solutions, Esri
4. Brian Peterson, Regional VP Engineering, Frontier Communications
5. Gary Evans, President & CEO, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc.
6. Delbert Wilson, General Manager, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
7. Jay Stewart, Director of Ethernet Solutions, Communications Test and Measurement, JDSU
8. Joe Blanchard, Chief Operating Officer, ReliOn Inc.

Here are the questions we posed to our Thought Leaders:

OSP Question #1 Background: Tablet Frenzy. Apple’s iPad tablet created a new mass market segment of portable consumer electronic devices. Competitors like Samsung, Motorola, and RIM have responded with their own versions of the tablet as well. Nielsen’s spring research on mobile connected devices says consumers are using them in these ways:

• About 50% of tablet owners said they were the only ones in their households using their tablet. About 43% said they shared it, and 8% said that while they own one, others are the primary user.
• Re: Cannibalization: 35% of those owned tablets and desktops said they used the latter less than they used to or not all.
• 32% of tablet and laptop owners said the same.
• 27% of tablet and e-reader owners said this, as did 27% of tablet and portable media player owners.
• 25% of tablet and portable game console owners are using the latter less often or not at all since purchasing a tablet.

OSP Question #1: How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP?

OSP Question #2: What implications does 3D TV have on bandwidth and equipment in the network?

OSP Question #3: How has the emphasis on mobile data and converging the wireless and wireline networks impacted your role as a leader within your company? As a mentor to others, what is one piece of advice you’d give them if they want to succeed in this industry?

OSP Question #4 Background: Mergers. Many people have very strong opinions about mergers like the recently completed CenturyLink (combining CenturyTel and Qwest) and potential mergers like AT&T/T-Mobile. In one recent web effort, a new group has formed called the No Takeover Project. In their opinion: “It is rigorous competition, not a marketplace dominated by a duopoly, that drives companies to use their technological expertise to improve and advance their service.”

OSP Question #4: What is your take on these changes in our industry, and what do those mergers do for the OSP professionals involved in those companies?

OSP Question #5 Background: Value-added services are the lifeline for future growth and revenues for global broadband providers, who must find ways to stay competitive as broadband services reach saturation levels, according to international research firm Parks Associates. (See their report Broadband Services: Global Outlook (Second Edition) at (http://www.parksassociates.com/report/broadbandservices-globaloutlook-2010)

In the U.S., 52% of broadband consumers are interested in premium technical support services from their broadband provider; 43% are interested in home monitoring and security services.

Verizon is conducting trials of a home automation. Home security offerings include IP-based cameras that stream video to an iPhone and fully monitored security systems that notify security guards when an alarm is tripped. AT&T, Comcast, Orange, and SK Telecom have announced or currently offer automation or home security services.

OSP Question #5: What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business?

OSP Question #6 Background: The Cloud. It’s been hyped and overhyped. The recent Amazon and Sony service outages have drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of The Cloud, but have they been enough to galvanize service providers to do more robust end-to-end system testing, as well as to take more seriously the human propensity for mistakes?

For example, in the case of Amazon, it was human oversight that caused the networking issue that then in turn caused a latency issue, which then caused a storage re-mirroring issue that ultimately culminated in a flooding issue. But can these things truly be anticipated and proactively tested?

OSP Question #6: What does this mean for testing and the human network? What does the OSP have to do with The Cloud?

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Joe DiMelis, Vice President - Construction & Engineering - Midwest AT&T Network Operations, AT&T

How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

The tablet addiction will impact the OSP Network (Wireline and Wireless) because of this portability and because of its reliance/demand to access the Internet.   These factors -- along with the continued development of Cloud computing -- will drive the need for more bandwidth (both local loop and backhaul) to meet the mobile data needs of these devices.  

In the past, a network could be built or upgraded to support a new technology over time as the technology and products were adopted by consumers. The frantic acceptance rate of the tablet shows that OSP providers no longer have the luxury of time. 

The network must be less device specific. It must continue the evolution to becoming a fiber based transport where software can be used to direct and manage the flow of data. This network architecture will allow providers to manage bandwidth based on demand as usage fluctuates between the various device sources.

What implications does 3D TV have on bandwidth and equipment in the network?

Because of the redundancy in information between the left eye and the right eye, and the fact that in most of today’s 3D implementations the content providers do approximately half of the resolution in one dimension to enable either the left-right or the top-bottom encoding of 3D, this technology (3D) only creates a roughly 30% increase in video bandwidth required over “regular” High Definition (HD) Rates. The expectation is that over time that bandwidth premium may shrink further as encoders leverage video compression technology for encoding 3D.  Therefore, 3D represents a modest change of only 30% in bandwidth, compared to the step function increase (a 300% or more bandwidth change) from Standard Definition (SD) to HD. 

The bigger change we are expecting in the future is 4KTVs. These are the new TVs that will emerge in 2014-2016 that will have 2000-4000 resolution (compared to today’s 1080x1920).  

How has the emphasis on mobile data and converging the wireless and wireline networks impacted your role as a leader within your company? As a mentor to others, what is one piece of advice you’d give them if they want to succeed in this industry?

As an industry, mobile data revenue has grown from less than 1% of revenue in 2000 to over 30% in 2010 (Source: CTIA, www.ctia.org). Realizing these dynamic growth trends early, AT&T has worked diligently to capture the benefits from converging our wireless and wireline networks through our “One AT&T” Initiative.

As a leader of a large Construction and Engineering Organization (supporting both the wireline and wireless networks), I have increased my focus in the following areas to drive our organizational execution:

1. Leading Change -- Combining 2 organizations while managing through unprecedented data growth created a significant amount of organizational change.

2. Using Interpersonal Skills -- One specific area of focus has been to ensure that we (as an organization) are “speaking the same language” and communicating effectively with one another.

3. Working Creatively and Collaboratively -- As we have converged the wireless and wireline networks and our people, our team began to discover and appreciate the dependencies they had on each other. Team members understood that jobs were not going away but that new opportunities were being created and everyone’s job was enhanced. The 2 organizations quickly realized that they were more alike than they were different. 

For those who want to succeed in this industry, you must embrace the foundational belief that change is the only constant (you must embrace and lead that change) and that every job in every organization is critical to the long-term success of our business (every team member matters). 

Joe began his career at Pacific Bell in 1986 in the Network Planning and Engineering (NP&E) Organization as a Network Design Engineer. In April 2006, Joe was named the Vice President of Construction & Engineering with AT&T Services, Inc. Joe has responsibility for the planning, engineering, and construction of the Outside Plant (OSP) facilities used to serve the voice, data, and video needs for all AT&T Customers (Wholesale & Retail) in the AT&T Midwest Region. In February 2008, Joe picked up the additional responsibility for mobility operations (cell site growth and maintenance) in the AT&T Midwest Region.

AT&T is bringing it all together for our customers, from the revolutionary iPhone to next-generation TV services. For more than a century, we have consistently provided innovative, reliable, high-quality products and services and excellent customer care. Today, our mission is to connect people with their world, everywhere they live and work, and do it better than anyone else. We’re fulfilling this vision by creating new solutions for consumers and businesses and by driving innovation in the communications and entertainment industry. We’re recognized as the leading worldwide provider of IP-based communications services to businesses. We’re also the top U.S. provider of wireless, high-speed Internet access, Wi-Fi, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. And we’re making huge advances in the entertainment and communications industry. For example, we’ve expanded our video offerings to include next-generation television services such as AT&T U-verseSM TV. It’s part of our three-screen integration strategy to deliver services across the three screens people rely on most: the mobile device, the PC, and the TV. As we continue to break new ground and deliver new solutions, we’re focused on delivering the high-quality customer service that is our heritage.

AT&T
www.att.com

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Darrick Zucco, VP & GM - Consumer Market, Cincinnati Bell

How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

Tablet addiction means increased bandwidth consumption over wireline, wireless, and Wi-Fi networks. This means that operators not only have to deal with the impact in the core and access elements, but also in the home networks. Bottlenecks at any of these points will cause a decreased level of satisfaction with users as video streaming becomes more prevalent anywhere at any time. Operators will need to ensure that wireless LAN equipment (i.e., gateway) in the home is 802.11n compliant and, more importantly, that the wireline network is conditioned like it would be for IPTV and VDSL deployments. Those that aren’t already making these types of investments will find themselves under competitive pressure from other wireline competitors or even wireless broadband substitution. Meanwhile, the wireless entities need to accelerate their backhaul upgrades to accommodate usage on their 3G/4G networks. Customer education will also be a challenge as many of these tablets have a Wi-Fi and cellular mode. As wireless carriers struggle to keep up with demand, the experience in Wi-Fi mode should be better and more consistent. However, users need to understand when to switch between connection types to avoid data overages and have a better experience.

How has the emphasis on mobile data and converging the wireless and wireline networks impacted your role as a leader within your company? As a mentor to others, what is one piece of advice you’d give them if they want to succeed in this industry?

It makes sense that industry consolidation continues to occur as losses of high-margin landline products continue to erode the legacy business. The benefit of consolidation is that there are large expense synergies in the back office that allow for higher returns and greater investment in technology. Investing is necessary to remain relevant to the consumer with faster broadband and service offerings like video. With wireline, the merger activity is primarily resulting in larger companies over a broader geography.

There are typically several competitors for services in the same geography including cable, satellite, wireless, and other over-builders. The increasing scale makes it easier to spread fixed costs, increase R&D, and have more leverage with suppliers.

OSP professionals need to be able to adapt to change and be flexible about their role in the future versus what it is today. It is a great opportunity to learn about new technologies and participate in a fast-paced environment.

What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business?

Value-added services are necessary to increase revenue growth and reduce churn in the broadband category. Competition continues to increase as everyone offers the same types of “commodity” products. Cincinnati Bell is enhancing existing services like portal, virus protection, and data backup along with planning new offerings such as identity theft coverage and premium technical support. Two common themes with value-added services are that they aren’t widely adopted and we aren’t experts at developing them. For example, 43% may be interested in home security services, but nationally around 18% of households actually pay for it. Because of those factors, we are establishing strategic partnerships with national players that have scale and expertise to help deploy these types of services as a subscription attached to the broadband offering. Another benefit of these partnerships is that many of these services are Cloud-based, which makes them much easier to develop, deploy, and maintain.

Darrick Zucco is the VP & GM of the Consumer Market for Cincinnati Bell. He has over 15 years of experience in telecommunications with Cincinnati Bell and City of Lebanon, Ohio. While at Lebanon, Darrick was responsible for running the municipal cable TV, phone, and broadband operations as a competitive option for residential and business customers. He has held various positions within Cincinnati Bell including business sales, marketing, product management, and various General Manager roles in the organization. To contact Darrick, email darrick.zucco@cinbell.com.

Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB) is one of the nation’s most respected and best performing local exchange, wireless and video providers, with a legacy of unparalleled customer service excellence and financial strength. Cincinnati Bell provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Cincinnati Bell
221 E. 4th Street, P.O. Box 2301
Cincinnati OH 45202
www.cincinnatibell.com

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Randall Frantz, Director Telecommunications and LBS Solutions, Esri

How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

Wireless spectrum is a finite resource, yet the consumer appetite for mobile data and video content seems insatiable. The industry is already taking steps to deal with congested frequencies by migrating transitioning from high-powered macrocells to more densely packed microcells in urban areas. Picocells in high-traffic areas or customer-installed femtocells at home are solutions that will help relieve congested base stations and are being used where feasible.

The increased number and density of these smaller coverage base stations will require additional backhaul facilities. In many cases construction of new fiber networks will be required. As this evolution to wireless continues, and more consumers migrate to mobile devices, we will be required to build more densely-packed base stations and fiber backhaul networks. The migration to a more wireless environment will increase the need for more fiber connections to base stations covering smaller areas. Ironically, as we become more wireless, we become more wired.

What is your take on these changes in our industry, and what do those mergers do for the OSP professionals involved in those companies?

The obvious changes are physical relocations and adjustment to new organizational structures and cultural norms. Mergers and divestitures are not new to the industry. The largest upheaval during my career was the breakup of AT&T. During the 1990s, cable TV companies went through reorganization as they swapped systems to create clusters and build the critical mass of customers required to launch new Triple Play services in key markets.

Today, as in the past, OSP professionals are assigned to newly formed organizations, and responsible for unfamiliar geographical areas with different network and OSS technology. Changes in organization, geography, and network technology should not be too new to most OSP professionals. In the last couple of decades many companies have reduced staff and modernized their outside plant. The biggest and most difficult challenge for companies and OSP professionals is adapting to new OSS. This has been the Achilles’ heel of more than one company merger. Lending credence to the difficulty in replacing an OSS is the fact that post-merger companies often struggle to eliminate duplicate legacy systems.

What does this mean for testing and the human network? What does the OSP have to do with The Cloud?

New technology requires a learning curve that inevitably exposes problems during early implementations. The way to learn the risks and foibles of new technology is through experience. Sometimes the lessons are painful. But, if the benefits are significant they will outweigh the costs.

Esri is increasingly using The Cloud, as are our customers. The Cloud is accelerating the rapid migration to GIS server technology and web applications. By eliminating hardware purchases, The Cloud reduces implementation cost and time. The ability to set up a system quickly and leverage offsite facilities is especially important when responding to a competitive threat or a natural disaster and time to response is critical.

The Cloud will place an increasing burden on the OSP. Internal communications networks will be replaced with demand for greater and more reliable external bandwidth. Ensuring physical diversity will become more critical. Users will grow to expect high bandwidth access at any location in order to leverage The Cloud and its many benefits.

Randall Frantz, Director Telecommunications and LBS Solutions, Esri, has more than 27 years of global telecommunications management experience. For more information on Esri and GIS-based telecommunications solutions, email rfrantz@esri.com or visit www.esri.com/osp.

With more than 40 years experience, Esri is a world leader in GIS and has built a comprehensive suite of solutions including server, desktop, and mobile applications to deliver a common operating picture across the entire enterprise. Esri ArcGIS technology delivers a wide range of geospatial solutions for wireless companies. Companies can access and share data through a single GIS platform for market forecasts, RF planning, service coverage maps, routing and performing network analysis. Whether you need maps for location-based services or are planning disaster recovery, Esri provides the solution. For more information on Esri and GIS-based telecommunications solutions, email rfrantz@esri.com or visit www.esri.com/osp.

Esri
380 New York Street
Redlands CA 92373
Tel: 909.793.2853
www.esri.com

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Brian Peterson, Regional VP Engineering, Frontier Communications

How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

The tablet addiction and, in reality, any wireless device, has had a major impact on Frontier’s wireline network as we work to satisfy the requirements of our cellular providers. Frontier expects to complete hundreds of FTTCS builds in 2011 to support this need. One thing Frontier has tried to do is leverage the investment in the cell site backhaul to complement other lines of our business. We always look at how the fiber build can support HSI expansion, Ethernet services, or traditional circuit needs we may have in the same area.

To conserve capital Frontier believes that Ethernet over copper is a viable solution in some cases. Especially to remote cell sites where fiber builds are extremely expensive and right-of-way issues may be a challenge.

Additionally, to support the consumer demand for faster wireless connections, Frontier has built community Wi-Fi networks in 19 markets and provides hundreds of hot spots throughout our territory so our customer can use their mobile devices throughout their local communities without incurring cellular charges.

What implications does 3D TV have on bandwidth and equipment in the network? 

There are several methods to give a viewer the 3D television experience. Today, the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) has standardized a 3D format known as “2D-plus-depth” which offers flexibility in remotely delivering bandwidth that is efficient while providing a quality 3D viewing experience outside of using Sony Blu-ray players in the home. The MPEG4 MVC or Multiview Video Coding technique (Codec) recently standardized allows a greater viewing experience than the 2D+Depth method while taking advantage of recent advances in video encoder compression technology.

With some manufacturers saying that 3D Titles will take a little more bandwidth than a MPEG4 HD/MVC title does today, most Telco Carriers are expecting the need to be between 6 to 10 Mbps to carry MPEG4 HD MVC (3D) content over their networks once the new technology encoders are in full deployment.

When viewing 3D content using a media player via local storage like Blu-ray rather than streaming the content from the Internet, better options become available and a viewer’s experience could be enhanced. Technology continually improves not only the 3D video experience in general, but pushes us toward better delivery options for increased bandwidth to the consumer such as VDSL2.

What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business?

Frontier has been on the forefront of the Value Added Services business, having launched its pioneering Peace of Mind PC Support services more than 4 years ago. Now branded under the Frontier Secure umbrella, Frontier provides a host of services for protecting devices at home or on the go: PCs, Macs, smartphones, digital tablets, wireless routers, mp3 players and printers, along with wireless diagnostic tests and repairs. From a customer standpoint, one of the key benefits of Frontier Secure is the personal touch with support from real people, 24/7, all located in the U.S., ready and able to help customers keep things working in their homes and businesses. And from a service provider perspective, offering Frontier Secure premium support enhances many of the core services that Frontier provides by enabling and configuring them correctly. With an expanding portfolio of services, Frontier is positioned to be the first call when customers have technology issues in their homes or businesses.

Brian Peterson, Frontier Communications’ West Region Vice President Engineering, began his 21-year career in telecommunications with Contel in June of 1989 as an Associate Engineer. He then worked for GTE and Citizens Communications (now Frontier Communications) holding the positions of Network Engineer, Operations Supervisor, OSP Engineering Manager, and then Engineering Director from May 2000 to January 2005 when he was promoted to his current position where he is responsible for all aspects of the engineering and construction function for the West Region of Frontier Communications. Brian can be reached at Brian.Peterson@ftr.com.

Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE: FTR) is a Fortune 500 company offering voice, High-Speed Internet, video, wireless Internet, data security solutions, bundled offerings, specialized bundles for small businesses and home offices, and advanced business communications for medium and large businesses in 27 states and with approximately 14,600 employees. As the country’s largest pure rural communications company, Frontier ensures that no matter where you live you have access to the same communication services found in metro communities. Frontier offers PC support and automatic hard drive back-up through our Peace of Mind services. Frontier’s my fitv site offers an extensive library of entertainment content, an easy-to-use site navigation /search function, and national and local TV content. More information is available at www.frontier.com, www.frontier.com/ir, www.frontierhelp.com, and www.myfitv.com.

Frontier Communications Corporation
3 High Ridge Park
Stamford CT 06905-1390
Tel: 203.614.5600
Fax: 203.614.4602
www.frontier.com

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Gary Evans, President & CEO, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc.

How does this tablet addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

While tablets may not replace laptops anytime soon, they are more mobile, cost less, and will be used by everyone from school children to business executives to senior citizens. New tablet models are being offered with 3G or 4G wireless as well as Wi-Fi. Cell towers everywhere will need greater data bandwidth capabilities and reliability to deliver on the increased 3G and 4G demand. Fiber optics will be a requirement at most of these tower sites. Building fiber to tower sites will allow network operators to generate healthy revenue streams. In addition, the remote location of most cell tower sites will mean that fiber run to them will likely pass a number of potential customers who can be served by broadband. Designing fiber routes to cell towers should take this into account. Outside plant improvements must allow for higher upstream and downstream capacity, in most cases requiring greater use of fiber optics.

What is your take on these (mergers) changes in our industry and what do those mergers do for the OSP professionals involved in those companies?

While news reports concentrate on the unfair advantage mergers bring as competition disappears when large companies join forces, I see it differently. As a tiny operator, I believe these mergers create a niche into which companies like Hiawatha Broadband (HBC) can slide. Putting together organizations like Century and Qwest is a mammoth undertaking, something that can’t be assimilated in a few months, maybe not in a year or two. That opens the door for a nimble provider. HBC this summer is constructing networks in 6 communities, all of which will compete with CenturyLink. The impact of the merger played a major role in our decision to move ahead, because of the logistical preoccupation that such an undertaking brings to firms that are merging. Another benefit for small companies like ours is that suddenly there are talented people available across the telecom job spectrum as the result of workers displaced by the mergers. For a company in an expansion mode, this new talent pool is an incredible benefit.

What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business?

Applications beyond voice, video, and data have always driven HBC. The company was created as a not-for-profit education initiative in 1993 and shortly after it became a for-profit full-line telecommunications provider in 1997, it partnered with Cerner Corp., Kansas City, to test health care applications on its new network, an effort that thrust its community health care provider, Winona Health, into an early lead in the realm of applications designed to make life better for those it serves.

Currently HBC, Winona Health, and Mayo Clinic have joined forces to develop a new health care concept that it is believed has the potential to revolutionize health care. The new concept, being developed through a Beacon grant from the federal government, has the potential to reduce health care costs, improve health quality, as well as helping to deal with declining physician numbers in rural America. That’s because telecom will take health care to the consumer, making physician efforts more efficient. Value-added services are not just a lifeline for telecom, they are also a lifeline for those who use them.

Gary W. Evans, president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications, joined the company in 1998. One of two people who performed the study in 1992 that led to the creation of Luminet (HBC’s predecessor), Evans is a long-time Winona resident. He served as Winona State University’s vice president of university relations from 1987 until 1998 after spending 30 years in the newspaper business. Evans is married. He and his wife, Ellen, are the parents of two children. Gary can be reached at gary.evans@hbci.com.

Created in 1997 as a successor to a not-for-profit education initiative called Luminet, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc. provides Internet, telephone, and cable television services to Southeastern Minnesota. The company serves the greater Winona area and St. Charles with hybrid fiber-coaxial networks and Lewiston, Minneiska, Rollingstone, Stockton, Utica, and Wabasha with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure. The company just announced plans for 6 FTTH projects designed to double its size. More than 40 percent of the stock in HBC is owned by Winona area educational institutions. The stock was purchased for the community’s schools by anonymous benefactors as the new company was organized to build upon the history of Luminet. Begun in 1992, Luminet utilized a leased fiber-optic network to connect the community’s educational institutions for the purpose of extending the reach of teaching and learning. HBCI, a privately held for-profit corporation, employs 72 people.

Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc.
58 Johnson Street
Winona MN 55987
Tel: 507.474.4000
Fax: 507.454.5878
www.hbci.com

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Delbert Wilson, General Manager, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

How does this tablet-addiction impact the evolution of the OSP Network?

Tablet computers don’t necessarily do anything more special than your 2-year-old laptop currently sitting on your desk, except that they are ultra portable, stylish, super friendly, and actually quite fun to use. We have long discussed that one day all people, appliances, cars, etc., would be connected to the Internet. While that was accepted, the thought still reminisced of science fiction with funny-sounding robot voices, complicated devices, and ultimately Big Brother watching our every move. Tablet computers have dramatically softened that image, and now the thought of controlling everything via a web connection or a web-connected device seems both practical and convenient.

While this change in consumer behavior is taking shape, the biggest change affecting OSP may be the migration of services that have been historically delivered via cable or satellite. As consumers begin watching more streaming video, on Internet-connected devices like tablets, the demand for bandwidth will grow exponentially. This will likely have a negative affect on the oversubscription models in use by companies today. ISPs will likely need to purchase larger wholesale Internet access, all the while making it difficult to raise consumer prices.

What implications does 3D TV have on bandwidth and equipment in the network?

The impact of 3D HDTV on bandwidth requirements can be quite alarming. In a general sense, 3D HDTV is equal to 2 video streams, or 1 for each eye. Current estimates range from 10 Mb/sec to 40 Mb/sec total per channel. This requirement at worst is enough to bring some ISPs to their knees, and at best enough to make others fully rethink their business models.

As in all streaming media technologies, a provider can compress the streams individually or can even squeeze both streams into the same space as that for a 2D stream, called Frame-Compatibility. The question remaining is what quality the end user will accept, as any encoding or processing of video risks quality loss.

As we move forward into new streaming formats and higher quality demands from our customers, the task of balancing bandwidth, quality, and customer experience will become increasingly critical. 3D HDTV has the potential to push many to their limits.

What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business?

Hill Country Telephone Cooperative has made great progress in the diversification of our services, revenues, and ultimately our brand. For many years we were just the “sleepy little phone company in Ingram” but today we are a full-service technology leader in 14 counties of the beautiful and rugged Texas Hill Country. We are known as the company to call for both immediate response solutions as well as for long-term technology engineering design and development.

Part of our strategy is to maximize all potential revenues. For our market, technical support services both in-house and on-site, security alarm and medical alert services, and video and IPTV services have all been created to keep the company profitable. We are also in a state of continual research and development in order to ride the revenue wave at every chance we have.

Delbert Wilson, General Manager of Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc., has more than 32 years experience in all phases of the telecommunications industry, ranging from major outside plant and wireless projects to exchange acquisitions and building distance learning networks. Testifying 4 times before Congress on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), Delbert has been deeply involved in its Grass Roots Advocacy Program, working to protect the interest of rural telephone cooperatives and its members. Delbert can be reached at dwilson@hctc.coop.

On February 13, 1951, a group of 5 men met and formed Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc. for the purpose of furnishing area-wide telephone service in rural areas to the widest practical number of users. Today Hill Country provides telecommunications, Internet, and long distance services in 15 exchanges located in 14 counties spread over 2,900 square miles in rugged Hill Country terrain. Realizing the importance of broadband availability for rural economic development, Hill Country has embarked on a mission to make broadband available throughout its service area. With bandwidth of up to 17-20 Mbps achieved, Hill Country will have the capability to deliver an array of new services and products to its members. Also included in this project is the establishment of an access tandem for the Cooperative’s network, which will not only give the Cooperative control over its network, but will also create a pathway for the migration of our network toward Internet Protocol.

Hill Country Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Tel: Toll Free 800.292.5457
www.hctc.net

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Jay Stewart, Director of Ethernet Solutions, Communications Test and Measurement, JDSU

How has the emphasis on mobile data and converging the wireless and wireline networks impacted your role as a leader within your company? As a mentor to others, what is one piece of advice you’d give them if they want to succeed in this industry?

In the past, technologies were attacked in silos, meaning that lines were not crossed between services and networks. As we move forward, we are starting to see the impact of IP and services anywhere and on any device. As we develop products for these new technologies we have to think outside of a particular service or network. We have to think, down the road how will the person using this product evolve and what might be the next technology? We have to be able to create flexibility in our products to support whatever might come up next. This has changed my role by forcing me to look beyond my group and work with multiple groups in JDSU to provide the best solution for our customers. As a mentor, the one thing that I share with people is that we really don’t know what we don’t know. One of the hardest elements of these new technologies is that human nature is always changing and we have to be flexible enough to change with it.

What is your take on these changes in our industry, and what do those mergers do for the OSP professionals involved in those companies?

Competition is a fundamental key to driving technology and competitive pricing. Having said that, the market is in a tough situation considering how our use of communications networks and services is evolving -- take, for instance, the use of smartphones and devices. The consumer is starting to expect every type of service everywhere. This creates the need to have service provider mass that can keep up with the investments, demands, and changes in technology to satisfy the consumer. The problem is that usually the larger a company, the potential to be less nimble. This creates a tough balance between being nimble and having enough mass to be able to invest in new technologies. In the macro scheme I think that balance will be reached, but there will probably be a few pendulum swings until that time.

What does this mean for testing and the human network? What does the OSP have to do with The Cloud?

The Cloud is the hot topic of the day. The term “cloud” is vague in that there are multiple types of Cloud services and access to Cloud services. So when discussing testing and the human network, I believe it will depend on the service. The old saying “You get what you pay for” comes to mind. If you are using a public Cloud, the ability to have platinum services is going to be tougher than when using a private Cloud. The issue with the public Cloud is, who is responsible for the testing and what are the points of testing? There are multiple points of contact that could be responsible for the quality of service in a public Cloud. In a private Cloud the ability to have one point of contact is a key benefit. It is much more controlled and allows for the ability to do more thorough testing and monitoring. Also, if an issue is found, the ability to isolate and fix the issue is the responsibility of the private Cloud provider.

Jay Stewart is Director of Ethernet Solutions for JDSU in the company’s Communications Test and Measurement business segment. He is an industry expert in the data/IP and services testing field with over 18 years of experience. Jay’s contributions in areas of Ethernet, IMP, and fixed-mobile convergence strategy are behind some of JDSU’s top service assurance solutions deployed by providers today. For more information, visit www.jdsu.com.

JDSU enables broadband and optical innovation in the communications, commercial, and consumer markets. JDSU is a provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators, network equipment manufacturers, and enterprise customers. JDSU is also a provider of innovative optical solutions for medical/environmental instrumentation, semiconductor processing, display, brand authentication, aerospace and defense, and decorative applications. For more information, visit www.jdsu.com.

JDSU Communications Test & Measurement
One Milestone Center Court
Germantown MD 20876
Tel: 240.404.1913
www.jdsu.com

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Joe Blanchard, Chief Operating Officer, ReliOn Inc.

What is your take on these changes in our industry, and what do those mergers do for the OSP professionals involved in those companies?

Mergers in the industry are not just a recent occurrence. We have seen significant growth and change since divestiture in 1984. If economic conditions, political climates, markets, and technology are all dynamic, then it should follow that organizations must also be dynamic. There is an often-quoted line that says “You can’t expect to meet the challenges of today with yesterday’s tools and expect to be in business tomorrow.” The ability for organizations and individuals to adapt to change brought about by mergers is what makes the industry great.

Strong personal opinions on mergers come from all perspectives. Some may have a financial windfall, some may lose their jobs, some may have to change their thinking, and some may not like their new boss. After the emotion has subsided, it should not be a surprise that most will say that the change or even adversity caused them to grow and become stronger as an individual… and hopefully, as an organization.

Even with mergers, I believe that as an industry, we have more choices of services and service providers than ever before.

What is your company doing to ride the wave of this next potentially profitable part of our business? 

In looking across the potential services enabled by broadband networks, it is hard to imagine what part of our lives will not be affected. Historically, service providers were mainly worried about building a bigger, faster pipe. Now it is clearly about the consumer and the services, content, and devices they demand.

ReliOn’s products don’t directly touch the consumer, but help the service provider offer a robust and resilient network. Backup power is an essential asset in a communications network. However, we think using a networked fuel cell to locally generate clean power as part of an overall power management and sustainability strategy is even more compelling.

Fuel cells at telecom sites can be remotely managed to support distributed demand response or peak shaving programs. Ten (10) sites at 7kW doesn’t do much in meeting utility scale goals, but 500 sites at 7kW just became 3.5 megawatts of dispatchable power. The term in use now is “negawatts” or watts that are coming off the grid. Locally generated, zero-emission power can be a valuable tool for sustainability.

What does this mean for testing and the human network? What does the OSP have to do with The Cloud?

The Cloud -- it wasn’t too long ago that “The Cloud” was used on network diagrams to represent any portion of the network that wasn’t pertinent. Diagrams had the generic IP or PSTN “clouds”. Now we are to believe that “The Cloud” is “The Network”. Recently, I read about the projected demise of the corporate IT department as it can now all be done in The Cloud.

The Cloud maybe, but fundamentals are the heart of a network. For The Cloud to function, at least for now, there is still hardware, software, and people involved. With that comes the need for resilient, fault-tolerant, and self-healing features for the devices. For the people, it means the skills to design and validate viable architectures and training technicians on procedures, recoveries, and contingencies. In the end, The Cloud is not accountable, but the service provider must be.

Joe Blanchard has served as ReliOn’s Chief Operating Officer since May 2011, having held the position of Vice President of Product Line Management since 2005. Blanchard spent the previous 18 years with Fujitsu in Richardson, Texas. During his tenure at Fujitsu, he held various management positions in development, product management, product support and services. Prior to Fujitsu, he worked in product development for Rockwell/Wescom and for GTE Automatic Electric. For more than 27 years, Blanchard has been involved in the design, development, marketing and support of products spanning DLC/DSLAMs and FTTx systems, telecom cabinets and power systems, optical transport, DWDM systems, Class 5 switching and PBX systems. Joe can be reached at jblanchard@relion-inc.com.

With more than 3.2 megawatts of fuel cell product delivered to over 1,100 customer locations, ReliOn is a world leader in the delivery of hydrogen fuel cell systems for backup power at communication sites. ReliOn works with wireless, wireline, and government communications customers to provide solutions to power requirements between 50 Watts and 12 kW. ReliOn’s patented solutions provide highly reliable, fault-tolerant, clean performance and extended runtime at a lifecycle cost benefit over many other backup power options. For more information, contact Fuel.cells@relion-inc.com and visit www.relion-inc.com.

ReliOn
15913 E. Euclid Avenue
Spokane WA 99216
Tel: 509.228.6500;
www.relion-inc.com

What’s your take on the 2011 final installment of our Thought Leaders Forum? Leave a comment and get the conversation going.