|
|
|
Socio-Economic
Montage
|
Report on the Telecommunications
Services & Infrastructure
East Kootenay and Columbia Valley Regions
|
Authored by:
Paul Bruch, CSP Internet Inc.
Prepared for:
East Kootenay Science Council
College of the Rockies
Crestbrook Forest Industries Ltd.
Rocky Mountain School District No. 6
South East Kootenay School District
March 1998
Location of Publication:
"Columbia Basin Trust Collection"
East Kootenay Science Council
College of the Rockies
|
Effective telecommunications is
the key to the present and future success of many organizations
in the East Kootenay region. Telecommunications services are one
of the largest operational expenses and among the most critical
services purchased by most companies. The goal of this project is
to help educate users of telecommunications facilities in the region
of both what is available and how to best make use of it. The focus
is on business users of services, but there is no bias toward any
business size or market. The information contained within is pertinent
to all users of telecommunications products and services.
Phase One
of this project involved the compilation of an inventory of services
available in the area. The report details the following:
 |
Directory
of Telecommunications Providers in the Region
 |
carriers,
|
|
wireless providers,
|
|
competitive local exchange
carriers (CLEC),
|
|
cable TV systems,
|
|
telephone providers,
|
|
satellite communications,
|
|
radio communication
equipment and systems,
|
|
internet providers. |
|
|
Review
of the Present East Kootenay Telecommunications Infrastructure
(by city)
|
|
Overview
of the General Costs and Availability of Telecommunications
Services in the Area
|
Switch Type: Step Switch
(SXS), GTD5, Multiplexing Switching Unit (MXU), Remote
Switching Unit (RSU) and Concern-Concentrator,
|
|
Free Calling,
|
|
Regular Telephone Lines
(PSTN): residential and business lines,
|
|
Centrex,
|
|
DataDial 56,
|
|
ISDN Microlink,
|
|
Frame Relay: local access
charge, service connection charge, network usage charge
and committed information rate (CIR),
|
|
Digital Channel Service
(DCS),
|
|
T1: Megaroute, Megastream
and Megalink,
|
|
2 Way Radio,
|
|
Cellular,
|
|
Autotel,
|
|
ADSL,
|
|
Pager. |
|
Phase Two
of the project explains how these services
could be of use to businesses in the area. The report details the
following:
|
Guidelines
and Recommendations for the Solicitation of Services from
Telecommunications Providers
|
defining requirements,
|
|
issuing an RFP. |
|
|
The Direct
Benefits of Effective Telecommunications
|
how to reduce the number
of telephone lines into an organization,
|
|
voicemail systems,
|
|
Centrex vs. PBX,
|
|
email systems,
|
|
long distance ,
|
|
video. |
|
|
Business
and Action Plans
|
for single-site and
multi-site organizations (voice, video, data and convergence). |
|
|
Future
Trends and Technologies
|
ASDL,
|
|
spread spectrum wireless,
|
|
V.90 or "56K modems",
|
|
Satellite,
|
|
BRI ISDN,
|
|
microwave,
|
|
cable modems,
|
|
competitive local exchange
carriers (CLEC),
|
|
asynchronous transfer
mode (ATM). |
|
The final section of the report
contains an extensive glossary of telecommunications and computer
terms that are frequented in everyday literature. Even by itself,
a quick read of the vocabulary will provide the reader with a very
good overview of the products available in the Telecommunications
Industry.
|
|
