Source: NTS Press Release

NTS, Inc., f/k/a Xfone, Inc. announced that it has begun construction of its high speed Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) Network in southern Louisiana. As the build out progresses, the fiber network will eventually include the communities of Hammond, Ponchatoula, Natalbany, Tickfaw, Independence and Amite, Louisiana, adding approximately 11,500 FTTP passings. A WiMAX service extension overlay will also bring advanced broadband services to towns in the St. Helena, Washington and Tangipahoa Parishes.

The Company’s southern Louisiana build out is funded by approximately $36.1 million in federal stimulus grants and loans.

In addition to breaking ground in Louisiana, NTS also announced that it has connected its first customers in Wilson, Texas and in Meadow, Texas. NTS’s ongoing fiber build out, when completed, is expected to reach 19 new communities in Texas and Louisiana, bringing the Company’s total FTTP passings to approximately 50,000. In addition to its presence in Wilson, NTS has established its FTTP network in the towns of Lubbock, Levelland, Smyer, Wolfforth, Littlefield, Burkburnett, Brownfield, Whitharral and Slaton, Texas.

Source: Calix Press Release

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) announced that the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) has selected the Calix Unified Access Portfolio and Calix Professional Services to support and implement its Broadband Linking the American Samoa Territory ("BLAST") Project, which will deliver ubiquitous advanced broadband services across the islands of American Samoa.

The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) funded the Project through a $91 million Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) award consisting of a combined grant and loan for plant engineering, materials, labor, and other costs, including access equipment. The BLAST Project will transform the islands' legacy copper network into an advanced fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure.

ASTCA has announced its intention to build this new network with the Ethernet eXtensible Architecture (EXA) Powered Calix access equipment, including C7 Multiservice Access Platform (MSAP) and E7 Ethernet Service Access Platforms (ESAPs), as well as the 700GE family of optical network terminals (ONTs). The Calix Professional Services team will serve as the program manager for the BLAST Project, working with key members of Calix Compatible Solutions Assurance Program to manage the various components of the network build, while providing network engineering, furnishing, and installation services.

Over 11,500 residences, businesses, and anchor institutions will be served by this network, which will deliver ultra-high-speed data, next-generation voice services, and new internet protocol television (IPTV) services across the islands.

Source: The Jamestown Sun

According to an article in The Jamestown Sun, the combined efforts of Dickey Rural Networks and Dakota Central Telecommunications have brought fiber-optic broadband services to about 16,000 businesses and homes in south central North Dakota. The article said that the project is the largest geographic area in North America served by fiber optic cables directly to the home.

The combined projects totaled about $90 million and included funding from USDA Rural Development and loans from other sources. The Rural Development funds included additional money from the federal stimulus package, The Jamestown Sun reported.

“What you’ve done with these two cooperatives is set the standard for the entire United States,” said Dallas Tonsager, USDA Rural Development undersecretary. “This area serves as a great role model for the rest of the country.”