Topic: CDE

CDE launches Lightband techonology: Welcome to the future!

By Bill Larson | October 3, 2007 |

At first glance it a was step back in time; vintage cars including a bright blue Camaro just begging to be taken for a ride, and members of the Roxy Theater’s production of Grease holding open doors at the end of a long red carpet.

In reality, there is a certain synchronicity to merging images of an era that saw the origination of television with the reality of fiber-optics “lightning express” [in this case, Lightband] into the future of telecommunications. It is the kind of creative, futuristic thinking that fueled 1950s imaginations in Disney’s Tomorrowland, that erupted and amazed in the futuristic exhibits at World Fairs. Many of us are old enough to have read about “the future” of technology in books by authors like Ray Bradbury or Isaac Asimov. Yesterday’s imaginings turned reality today.

Tuesday evening, the Clarksville Department of Electricity stepped into the future with the unveiling of their new logo, sign, branding and price information for their new Fiber to the Home (FTTH) services that place Clarksville, Tennessee on the cutting edge — nationwide. CDE Lightband is the culmination of years of planning and design, an informational campaign, and legalities including an endorsement by the voters of Clarksville on the referendum question that allowed this far-reaching development to occur. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, News | 1 Comment »

Support Net Neutrality

By Bill Larson | March 29, 2007 |

Net neutrality is the principle that on the Internet everyone is equal. That a personal website or a small businesses web site is on equal footing with the largest multinational corporations. It was the founding principle of the Internet. Large corporate interests now want to change that.

They already control your Internet connection and now want to use that gatekeeper status to be able generate more income for themselves by charging content providers for faster access to your Internet connection. If you speed up some, it goes without saying that you must slow down others. Net Neutrality is important to ensure that small independent sites like Clarksville Online can continue to compete and provide an important alternative voice to corporate media.

Clarksville, TN will not be at the mercy of these corporations with alternatives available like CDE’s Fiber to the Home service which is coming soon.

PBS’s program NOW did a show on this important subject. Lets take a look. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Technology | No Comments

Charter sucks redux

By Bill Larson | November 21, 2006 |

I apologize for the lack of updates to the site by me for the last 4 days. You see my cable service was down yet again. This time, it went down sometime very early Friday morning. Figuring it might be a Clarksville-wide issue, I waited until Friday evening before calling Charter on the off chance that the problem which would resolve it’s self.

I called, navigated the myriad options available with Charter’s automated phone system and finally reached a real person. I read the support agent my signals and was told yes, I had a problem, and that they would have to dispatch a technician to my house. But oh so sorry, the first available appointment was Tuesday, November 21st between 8am and 12pm. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion | 1 Comment »

Fiber optics in Chelan County, Washington

By Bill Larson | October 17, 2006 |

FIBER OPTICS, Lighting our Future video. Hear local residents talk about how the Chelan County PUD’s fiber network in Washington State is working for them (6-minutes).This video is also applicable for other communities, like ours who are considering, or planning on building, a municipal fiber network.

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

More on the CDE referendum

By Bill Larson | October 13, 2006 |

CDE has a 70 plus year track record of proven ability to deliver low cost, reliable, electrical services to the residents of Clarksville. They will use that experience in delivering the telecommunications services that the voters of Clarksville will authorize them to deliver in November.

They are building the fiber network not because of the additional services, which will be used to reduce the costs of building, maintaining, and operating the network. Instead they will be laying fiber to enhance their ability to deliver advanced electrical products and other services that cater to the user like select billing. Catering to the customer is something that is alien to Charter Cable.

Competition is competition; it doesn’t matter that CDE is a public entity, if it saves the consumer money and provides more reliable service.  «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

Charter is using fear as a weapon against you

By Bill Larson | October 8, 2006 |

We have all seen the ads by Charter opposing the Clarksville Department of Electricity offering Cable TV, Phone, and extremely high speed Internet services. They are misleading and for the most part inaccurate. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

CDE Electric Expo 2006, & Answers To Your Questions About CDE’s Referendum

By Bill Larson | October 5, 2006 |

CDE has corrected some of the misinformation that Charter and other opponents of the Fiber Referendum have been clouding the air with. CDE calls it misstating, I call it lying. Well CDE has to be political on this subject matter, I however do not. They have launched a new web site, Vote Yes CDE. They are also holding their yearly Electric Expo on Saturday at the CDE office.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Learn About CDE’s Referendum

By Bill Larson | September 12, 2006 |

The Clarksville Department of Electricity is proud to be able to meet the energy needs of our customers. For nearly 70 years, CDE has made it a point to utilize the latest in technology in order to provide our customers the best service possible. Because of the dedication of our employees and board members, and the loyalty of our customers, CDE has been able to consistently offer quality electric service at an afffordable price.

CDE now has an opportunity to enhance the service we offer to this community. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, Politics | No Comments