 |
| IN THIS ISSUE |
|
 |
|
| |
Pick 'Em Challenge Winners!
|
| More than 100 people participated in Madison's local high school football Pick 'Em Challenge this fall. Each week during the challenge, participants chose game winners from local high school team matchups and reported a score for added points. The top three point scorers were Joe Baum from Staunton (1st Place), Patrick Murphy from Mt. Olive (2nd Place), and Douglas Bugger from Hamel (3rd Place). Each winner received a Madison Fan Prize Pak including a $50 Madison Gift Card. Thanks to all who entered this season's Pick 'Em Challenge! |
 |
 |
 |
Joe Baum from Staunton
(1st Place) |
Patrick Murphy from Mt. Olive
(2nd Place) |
Douglas Bugger from Hamel
(3rd Place) |
Retransmission Consent
|
Since 1992, the federal government has given television broadcasters the right to grant or deny cable operators use of their signal, in addition to exclusivity in the market. As a result, broadcasters have unrestrained leverage in negotiating the price of retransmission. These negotiations are typically conducted every three years during December.
Madison Communications is currently in retransmission negotiations with ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and WB to determine the increase in the amount they will charge for the right to carry their signals, commonly referred to as "retransmission consent fees."
Click here to read more. |
*** Network Upgrades ***
Madison recently completed several major upgrades to the network.
|
 |
DCT Box Upgrade
In addition to offering a new feature which allows you to search by actor, director or any keyword, you can now schedule a recording right from the search! Plus, recordings are now stored by folder groups, so locating stored recordings is easier! Click here for more information. |
| |
|
|
Upgrade to DOCSIS 3.0 Technology
Madison installed a redundant fiber-optic transport ring between the head end and other key locations, establishing even higher levels of reliability and speed capabilities than before. Madison customers benefit by the increased speeds and service expansion capabilities.
|
| |
|
|
Peer App Internet Cache
This enables Madison to store popular Internet content locally which means customers will experience faster downloads.
|
|
Call Completion – A Growing Nationwide Problem
|
| Madison's network is functioning properly. The drop calls are a result of calls that do not reach Madison's network. |
|
For some time now, Madison has been receiving customer reports concerning incomplete and dropped calls, as well as a range of call quality problems. Madison has taken aggressive steps within the past 12 months to research the cause and extent of these issues which seem to originate outside of our calling network.
We have learned that this is a nationwide problem among rural telephone companies and that representatives from telephone companies across the United States have taken steps to address this problem with the Federal Communications Commission. |
We do know that Madison Telephone Company's network is functioning properly. The problem resides in troubled calls, which move from one company's network to a second and often a third and fourth network, do not reach Madison's network.
We are very interested in hearing about any trouble you might experience with calls not being completed, and ask that you assist us with compiling data which may be submitted to these various agencies that are in the process of resolving this matter. Please, when providing information to our office, include:
- Date and time the call was placed & the phone number from which the call originated.
- The long distance or wireless provider from which the call originated.
- Details about what, if anything, occurred on the receiving end of the call. (i.e. dead air, ringing with no answer, etc.)
You can report these incidents to Madison by dialing 1-800-422-4848 Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information about this issue click here.
|
Meet the Tech
|
 |
| Scott Eckhardt, Lead Technician, has been with Madison for 13 years. Scott's responsibilities include sorting the daily service orders and monitoring the progress of technicians in the field. According to Scott, "I support the tech when assistance is needed or if he requires additional resources while performing a premise visit. I also work with our Chief Technician and our IT Department to perform monitoring and testing to insure that we are delivering the best possible product to our customers." |
Scott conducts monthly training sessions so that all technicians keep up with the newest consumer electronics and customer premise equipment. He is also a firm believer in educating customers during the installation of new services so that they can get the most out of Madison's services. Scott's motto is, "Without our customers, we are nothing!"
Scott lives in Staunton where Madison's main office is located. He stays active in the community by donating his time to Staunton Little League T-Ball, the Rib Fest, and area parades. |
|
