* Optimum Lightpath nets honor
The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) has named Optimum Lightpath, Cablevision Systems Corp.’s broadband business division, as the “Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year” in the category of outstanding innovation.

A panel of judges selected Optimum Lightpath among 10 finalists.

Optimum Lightpath owns and manages a fiber network consisting of 2,400 route miles. The network offers speeds up to 10 Gbps.

* Charter beefs up VoIP training
Charter Communications is recommending that its field operators and installation contractors tap VoIP training from Jones/NCTI as the MSO maintains a service launch expansion plan.

The Jones/NCTI IP Voice training program is an online course consisting of three hours of video that shows the step-by-step process of service installations. Jones/NCTI officially launched the program in March.

* Nextlink, Covad partner on enterprise wireless access
XO Holdings subsidiary Nextlink Wireless and Covad Communications have formed a strategic partnership that will enable Covad to offer wireless Ethernet services to enterprise customers.

Using Nextlink’s LMDS wireless spectrum, Covad will be able to offer access speeds up to 25 Mbps per subscriber for VoIP and other applications. The deal first covers Los Angeles, then will expand to Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

* SureWest bows customer portal
SureWest Communications has established a new broadband Web portal (preview here), offering its more than 60,000 HSD subscribers personalized content and services, including weather, news, stock updates, e-mail and online games.

The portal was built by Laszlo Studios via “OpenLaszlo,” its open source Ajax development platform.