Mainebiz Special Editions

B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 62 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N G r o w i n g M a i n e ' s e c o n o m y i s a b i g conversation today, and the infrastructure that is nec- essary to draw new business is a huge part of that conversation. Traditionally we think of infrastructure as roads, and as access to water, waste disposal, and utilities. In today's world, connectivity is as important to business as more "traditional" infrastructure. Presently, we think of connectivity in terms of the Internet, and rightly so, since cloud-based technolo- gies are employed in virtually every industry. Although reliable high-speed Internet is critical to the economy, Maine's geography and sparse population density pose a challenge for Internet providers who may be reluctant to invest where the rate of return is lower than in densely populated areas. Ironically, Maine faced the very same challenges back in the 1800s, at the dawn of the telephone industry. e OTT Story Begins A division of Otelco Inc., OTT Communications has been serving Maine for more than a century. In the late 1800s, when the large tele- phone companies could not make a business case to build telephone infrastructure in rural areas, it was local Maine farmers and busi- nessmen who took it upon themselves to bring telecommunications technology to their communities. Mid-Maine Communications—a merger of several small rural phone companies—and Pine Tree Telephone and Saco River Telephone are three of the six com- panies in four states that are part of the OTT Communications Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) family. OTT also provides services in Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) markets in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Although rural telephony gave OTT Communications its roots, it was really the ingenuity and determination of those farmers and businessmen that set the stage for what the company has become. Within that same tradition, OTT today is a leading provider of a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art products and services, for residents and businesses, that range from its foundation of tra- ditional phone service to fiber optic technology. anks to Reliable Networks, a division since 2014, OTT Communications' cadre of services has expanded to include mission-critical Cloud and Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop hosting, along with managed backup, security and other services available to support the company's entire client roster. L. Mark Stone, founder of Reliable Networks and now its General Manager, relocated from New York City to start his company. "I came here because Maine is such a wonderful place to be. Now I understand the challenges of starting a business here—or anywhere, for that matter," he said. "We decided to join OTT to expand our market, but more importantly we wanted to be part of the OTT business philosophy of putting the client's needs first." Internet Connectivity OTT introduced 28.8 Kbps dial-up Internet service to its customers in Maine in 1995, then in 1999 DSL was introduced with speeds up to 1 Mbps. Today, in addition to its DSL offerings, which now reach speeds of over 40 Mbps, OTT owns and operates a 500- mile completely redundant fiber network in the state, and leases and lights another 500 miles with 10 Gbps on the northern ring of Maine's 3 Ring Binder. e company is currently implementing three fiber-to-the-premise networks in Gray, New Gloucester and Lowell, Maine. When complete, these projects will be able to deliver upload and download speeds in excess of 150 Mbps. Connectivity and Municipal Government Municipal government poses some complex chal- lenges where technology products and services are concerned. From an operational perspective, most towns require high-speed Internet connectivity, secure reliable communication between multiple locations and, for regulatory reasons, reliable system back-up and archiving capabilities. Complicating matters are the budget constraints that towns face as they consider IT equipment and support staff. OTT Communications provides fiscally responsible business solutions to more than 50 municipalities in Maine. Additionally, as many municipalities begin to engage in the "municipal P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O T T C O M M U N I C A T I O N S P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O T T C O M M U N I C A T I O N S OTT Communications, a Division of Otelco Inc. 56 Campus Dr., New Gloucester, ME Communication Technology Robert Souza, Otelco President, and CEO Founded 1889 127 employees ottcommunications.com Innovative connectivity growing Maine businesses OT T Communications O U R V I S I O N : " To continue the traditions of integrity, ingenuity, innovation, determination, and customer care that, for more than a century, have always steered us along what I believe has been a very successful and fulfilling paths. " — Rob Souza, Otelco President and CEO Top: Outside Plant personnel in Shoreham, Vermont, work to restore power in the aftermath of an ice storm in early winter of 2014. Bototm: Otelco President and CEO Rob Souza, a Biddeford native, has spent 37 of his 40 years in the telecom industry in Maine.

• Cover