• SureWest to operate Everest unit under SureWest name
By Traci Patterson
Starting today, SureWest Communications will begin to operate its Everest Broadband unit under the SureWest name. SureWest completed the acquisition of the Kansas City-based broadband triple-play provider on Feb. 13. The deal was first announced in December (story here).
“Using the SureWest name for the Kansas City operations reinforces our message of ‘One Company, One Vision,’ and as we expand our network and launch new marketing campaigns, it is important for the operations in our Kansas City and Sacramento regions to be recognized as part of one company integrated under one name and one brand,” said Steve Oldham, SureWest’s president and CEO.
SureWest is adding a total of 18 new high-definition (HD) channels to its network in the Kansas City region in the next 30 days. The company is also expanding its network in the region and is scheduled to add 10,000 new residential homes in the greater Kansas City area in 2008.
• JDSU adds fiber cleaning kit
By Brian Santo
JDSU released an all-in-one fiber optic test kit, providing network technicians with a simple way to avoid one of the leading causes of network downtime: contaminated, or “dirty,” fiber.
JDSU said it provides all of the tools necessary to inspect, clean and perform power or attenuation measurements on fiber optic connections in easy-to-use kits to prevent costly network damage during installation, qualification and troubleshooting.
The kits include JDSU video fiber microscopes, optical cleaning tools, PocketClass or Smart optical light sources and optical power meters, and a visual fault locator (VFL). The kits also include a wide selection of Westover precision tips for the video fiber microscope and a collection of fiber optic patch cords for connecting to the system under test.
• Sunrise reorganizes, eliminates COO position
By Traci Patterson
Sunrise Telecom – which provides test and measurement solutions for telecom, wireless and cable networks – has announced a new corporate management structure. The new integrated structure, which is part of the company’s organizational restructuring that began several months ago, will allow the company to use its technologies, expertise and products to better address the market’s needs and speed key business decisions, Sunrise Telecom said.
The company said that a key element of the reorganization process was combining the broadband, wireline and fiber optics operations into a single business unit to mirror the convergence of the industry. The new structure has resulted in the elimination of duplications and redundancies in the organization, including eliminating the position of COO.
Gerhard Beenen, who was promoted to COO in May, left the company on June 30. Beenen joined Sunrise Telecom in August 2006 as president and GM of the Telecom Products Group.
More Broadband Direct:
• Comcast inks purchase agreement for Thomson’s DTAs
• Nielsen: Average TV viewing going up
• ACA asks FCC for quiet period during digital transition
• For consumers, state video franchising is backfiring
• Report: Broadband telephony market to hit 28M subs by 2013
• RCN makes Levine 7th board member