Archive News Articles - 2005
PLT to Drive Fast Internet Service in Florida’s Heartland
Grant to fund broadband feasibility and economic impact study
Fairfax, VA, (October 16, 2006) – PLT (PLT), which offers turnkey solutions to communities left behind in the nation’s migration to Broadband, today announced that the Florida Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI) has awarded PLT a contract to evaluate broadband feasibility in the six counties and four cities that comprise one of the three Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC) in Florida. The study will be funded by a $110,000 grant awarded to FHREDI by Governor Jeb Bush in August, earmarked for examining the economic impact of reliable broadband Internet access in South Central Florida. The grant is part of Enterprise Florida’s statewide 2006 – 2008 strategic plan for economic development: rural priorities
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States ranks twelfth on a list of 30 countries in access to broadband services. Although almost 50M US consumers have access to fast Internet services, rural communities are often located outside the economic reach of DSL and cable Internet access. PLT will be working with FHREDI to study the feasibility, economic impact and technology considerations to create the business case and service rollout for fast Internet in the counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee and the cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee and South Bay.
“Florida’s Heartland REDI, is a Regional Economic Development agency in South Central Florida that touts a Rural Lifestyle with access to a skilled workforce, global transportation routes, and a strong public-private partnership,” said Lynn Topel, Executive Director of FHREDI. “Companies such as U.S. Sugar Corp., Georgia-Pacific, Southern Garden Citrus Processing and Wal-Mart Distribution Center already call our communities home. We recognize the importance of Broadband Internet access to expand our business base. PLT brings a unique approach and clear expertise that will assist an incoming rural ISP to plan, build and manage the successful Internet services that will further drive economic development in the region.”
PLT is beginning the broadband feasibility study immediately. Future phases of the project will include:
- Preparing a detailed planning budget for broadband deployment
- Offering a detailed project plan for the implementation of fast Internet services in the region
- Providing detailed descriptions of the resources, support and job descriptions for key positions needed to facilitate the project
- Assisting with the community, governmental and business outreach necessary to make the project a success
“With low population density communities located within 80 percent of the counties in the U.S., there is a real need for effective broadband strategies that bring these services to those not reached by traditional DSL and cable Internet offerings,” said Subodh Nayar, the rural services practice manager at PLT. “With an attractive business climate and growing population, Florida’s Heartland is a prime example of the type of community best served by a Rural ISP. We are thrilled to be working with FHREDI to plan the introduction of affordable, accessible broadband Internet services.”
PLT’s Lean Build Planning Methodology™ is designed to balance the requirements for meeting demand for service with aggressive capital and operating expense management. PLT has used this approach with a number of economic development agencies, power cooperatives and government agencies to plan and deliver fast Internet services to communities not served by traditional broadband providers. Most recently, the company undertook a study focused on the eight RACEC counties in Northwest Florida, for Opportunity Florida, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in the Florida Panhandle.
According to Gary Clark, Chairman, Opportunity Florida Executive Board, “PLT approached the project from a true return on investment perspective, demonstrating both that a rural ISP could offer cost-effective high-speed Internet access, and what the community would need to do to make the deployment a success. One of the greatest concerns in bringing these services to rural communities remains the ultimate cost to consumers. The study undertaken by PLT is helping us to develop services that will be accessible to our constituents – the residents and businesses in Florida who will be most eager to take advantage of the benefits of affordable high-speed Internet.”
About PLT
Based in Fairfax, Virginia, PLT is a systems integrator that plans, builds and launches Rural Internet Service Providers (RISPs). Founded by veterans of the telecommunications and energy industries, PLT’s staff and consultants have specific experience launching telephony and broadband services in not only the U.S., but also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Committed to “making the world your neighbor,” PLT is currently working in several States with economic development agencies and rural electric cooperatives to provide affordable fast Internet access to businesses, homes, schools, churches, farms, and other establishments. For more information, please visit PLT on the web at www.pltinc.com.
About FHREDI
Florida’s Heartland encompasses six South Central Florida Counties, has a land area of 5,000 square miles with a population of 250,000 living in 24 communities. Although each community is unique, broad-based support for economic progress is a constant, unifying theme. Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI) provides regional economic development coordination to businesses interested in expanding or relocating to the area. Working with local partners within the region, as well as Enterprise Florida, Workforce Florida, Inc. and the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, FHREDI strives to make Florida’s Heartland an attractive place to do business, through assistance with site selection, incentives and workforce training assistance, among other services. For more information, please visit FHREDI on the web at www.fhredi.com.
NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network Selects PLT to evaluate the performance of the DS-2 BPL Chipset
June 1, 2006. Yesterday, the National Rural Electric Association’s Cooperative Research Network appointed Global TeleVentures DBA PLT to add to the recently completed study on BPL’s role in providing high-speed Internet services in rural communities. Subodh Nayar, the President of Global TeleVentures, Inc, and the project manager for the assessment commented that, “It will greatly enhance the value of the findings from the CRN technical evaluation that the performance of both the Intellon chipset, that is at the heart of the homeplug alliance and the DS-2 chipset that is at the heart of many BPL systems are being tested.”
About Powerline. Telco PLT provides the functional expertise to define, create, and deliver communication services in communities beyond the reach of wireline technologies like Fiber, DSL, and Cable. For more information, send an e-mail to info@pltinc.com
About CRN and NRECA. CRN is a research program that is dedicated to solving the business challenges of electric cooperatives through the use of technology applications. The NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation's more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to 37 million people in 47 states. For more information, visit www.nreca.coop.
PLT Completes the BPL Trial for the NRECA’s CRN
April 4th, 2006. As reported in this week’s BPL Today, PLT the US Trading name of Global TeleVentures, Inc. completed its assessment of the role BPL might play in the delivery of high-speed Internet services in rural America. Subodh Nayar, the President of Global TeleVentures, Inc, and the project manager for the assessment commented that, “BPL worked reliably, and delivered performance results comparable with DSL.”. To review the article that appeared in BPL Today, click here.
About PLT PLT provides the functional expertise to define, create, and deliver communication services in communities beyond the reach of wireline technologies like Fiber, DSL, and Cable. For more information, send an e-mail to info@pltinc.com
Global TeleVentures, Inc demonstrates that it is Economically Feasible to offer high-speed Internet Services in Rural Florida
February 2nd, 2006. Global TeleVentures, Inc. DBA PLT made a presentation yesterday in Tallahassee, Florida of its findings from its recently concluded business case analysis for offering wireless high-speed Internet access in NW Florida to representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Florida Workforce Board and Enterprise Florida. The study found that with active community involvement, a wireless Internet service provider could cost effectively offer a high-speed Internet service at rates similar to those found in higher density communities.
Said Subodh Nayar, the President of Global TeleVentures, Inc, “The key to cost effective deployment of a wireless high-speed Internet service is active local community involvement. Local community involvement requires the support of the local Government, business and quick adoption by residents.”
About Global TeleVentures, Inc. Global TeleVentures, Inc was founded in 2002 with the charter to make strategic investments in operators targeting under served markets and provide talented professional consulting that helps these network operators dramatically improve the return on their telecom investments.
Global TeleVentures, Inc to market in the US as PLT
January 2nd, 2006. Today, the shareholders of Global TeleVentures, Inc (GTV) unanimously voted to assume the name PLT when providing services to the small – medium rural communities that were the primary market for PLT. Said Subodh Nayar, President of GTV, “PLT has established itself as a leading solution provider for Broadband services in the rural communities in the USA, therefore I believe that continuing the use of the name and brand will make it easier for current and future clients to work with Global TeleVentures, Inc.”
About PLT. PLT provides a turnkey solution for cost effective broadband deployment and profitable operation in rural America. www.pltinc.com
About Global TeleVentures, Inc. Global TeleVentures, Inc. specializes in providing the functional expertise to define, create, and build communication companies in recently liberalized markets. www.globalteleventures.com |
