[Steve Mehs]

The next big thing the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative is ready to dive into is satellite broadband, the organization's president said.

Whether it's investment in platforms or becoming a key distribution play, NRTC President Bob Phillips said the cooperative is ready to become a major player in the developing high-speed product. "We are interested in coming in and driving that industry forward," he said.

"Our core business right now is satellite to home video. Our future is going to be based on satellite broadband."

The NRTC has talked with all companies tied to Ka-Band, outside of EchoStar and Hughes, Phillips said. He didn't provide specifics on those discussions. Today, NRTC sells Ku-Band services from StarBand and DirecWAY from Hughes Network Systems.

Phillips said he looks at today's satellite broadband technology the same way he saw C-Band and the early days of satellite TV. Years ago, satellite TV equipment was expensive, and there were a lot of technical issues with the first systems.

But with the innovations small dish services brought to the business, equipment fell in price, and technology offered consumers more choices.

Spot-beam technology, which will be available with emerging Ka-Band satellite systems, and new protocols in delivering broadband content will make next generation Internet-via-satellite affordable and easy to use, Phillips said. "There have been constant improvements in the way satellites deliver data," he said.

From SkyReport (Used with Permission)

 

[jrjcd]

they gotta do something, as after the merger, they won't have any exclusives on territory anymore...lol

 

[Nick]

Two of my Club Dish referrals were former hostages of the NRTC. They paid higher prices for less programming than they now have with E*.

 

[Geronimo]

Actually Pegasus claims they WILL have exclusivity after the merger.

 

[Nick]

How so??????

 

[Geronimo]

Not news Mr. Nick. But for soem time now Pegasus has claimed that after the merger they will be the exclusive provider of ANY service from the combined provider in their area. I am not saying I buy their claim but I am saying that it is far from certain who will have rights in NRTC areas.

This is what we have lawyers and courts. this could go to court. Besettled outside court or Pegasus could be bought out. Who knows?

Here is a link but this has been hashed out here and on the other board many times

http://www.pegsattv.com/faq/set.html

 

[Brian Rector]

Id have to say good luck to Pegasus because broadband is not an area that many people are buying into these days. In order for Pegasus to even make it into the broadband area, they have to make the prices low to get even those who are AOL subs to join up.

DirecTV is even exploring the possibility of even keeping their DirecTV DSL, since its a big money loser for them during the last quarter.

I remember a few years ago people said that the old 56k modem technology was going to be obsolete soon and broadband was going to be the next big thing. I havent seen anybody beating down the doors of retailers wanting the DSL, T1, Cable, etc technology that make downloading the latest Windows XP Service Pack 1 quick and simple.

 

[jrjcd]

lol-peg also claimed that THEY were going to buy DTV last year....oh well...

 

[Geronimo]

I am just reporting the news. And I bring this up every time somebody says there is nationakl pricing---or willb e after the merger. There is not now and we dont know if there will be.

 

[Jacob S]

Is there a market profitable enough for the satellite companies in the country for internet by satellite in addition to the cities?