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63 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 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 broadband" conversation, OTT combines its understanding of municipal budget constraints with its tradition of ingenuity and determination to offer a customized approach to address mu- nicipal broadband issues that are as unique to each town as the towns themselves. Excerpts from a Broadband Feasibility Study for Windham, Gray, Standish and Raymond: • OTT Communications has partnered with Lake Region munici- palities in the past— in 2004, it worked with Windham to design and promote its DSL deployment; and in Gray OTT worked with the town to design and build a network to connect town buildings in 2014 and 2015. • OTT Communications has greater flexibility in partnering with local interests, which could work in the town's favor. If local carri- ers are willing to meet the region's internet goals, or share the risk with the towns to meet them, this could be a less risky and lower cost solution than the towns building a network of their own. Business Services OTT Communications' long history of innovation is evidenced by its introduction of Hosted Business Phone systems in 2007. Currently, OTT supports approximately 8,500 hosted phone users in the state. Aside from the conservation of human and financial resources associated with the deployment of hosted phone systems, there are benefits that one hopes never to see. As if doing business isn't challenging enough, when disaster strikes, such as a fire, the result can be devastating. OTT Communications' Sales Engineer, Dan Baker, shared a story: "Our customer, Katahdin Federal Credit Union, experienced a minor fire at its Millinocket branch, and thanks to hosted phone technology, staff was able to simply unplug their phones and plug into an Internet connection at a neighboring business and be operational within a couple of hours." Another solution broadly used by OTT Communications customers, such as County Federal Credit Union, Redington Fairview General Hospital, University Credit Union, and Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, is OTT SiteLink. "SiteLink IP is one of our most popular solutions," commented OTT IP Special Services Director Jason Gay, "It essentially operates across multiple sites like a WAN [wide area network], but provides the security of a closed LAN [local area network]." Wholesale and Carrier Grade Products and Services OTT Communications offers a full suite of carrier-grade whole- sale telecom products and services for nationwide carriers, as well as white-label solutions for businesses including dial tone, VoIP, fax, and internet. With networks nationwide, OTT can deliver innovative carrier-grade and wholesale telecom products and services that range from back office infrastructure technologies, to Hosted IP PBX services to cell tower backhaul solutions. OTT Communications enjoys relationships with ISPs, Managed Service and Hardware Providers, and IT consulting companies as a provider of white-label products and services that complement the products and services offered by these companies. OTT ILEC Services In its Maine ILEC footprint, OTT Communications provides residential and business voice and Internet services to nearly 10,000 customers in Maine. Doing Business in Maine "ere is no question that after more than a century, the OTT Communications family of companies in Maine has endured the test of time," commented OTT Director of Marketing and Product Development Trevor Jones. "It's great to employ that experience as we provide other businesses with the technology and connectivity they need to be successful in Maine." Philosophy and Commitment Even with all its 21st century advances in technology, OTT Communications holds strong to its commitment to provide good, old-fashioned customer care at every level. Understanding the importance of Maine's economy, OTT not only employs more than 100 Mainers, the company works diligently to provide the technology solutions necessary for others to operate successful businesses in Maine. OTT Communications is a people company. "I love working for OTT because we never lose sight of putting our customers first," commented CLEC Client Service Supervisor Lisa Rideout. "Every department in the company works together like family, and treats our customers as if they were family, too." Leading OTT Communications is Otelco President and CEO Rob Souza, who has spent all but three years of his 40-year rural telecom career in Maine. "During my career, the telecommunica- tions and technology industry has seen a radical transformation," Souza said. "While I'm proud that we've kept pace with, and in some ways, led the way with some cutting-edge technology, it's the fact that we have always maintained our integrity and our commit- ment to exemplary customer care that helps me sleep at night." l 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 Top: OTT Marketing Director Trevor Jones conducts a seminar, "Demystifying Broadband," for municipal officials and business owners in Gray and New Gloucester, Maine. Bottom: After having to replace a pole due to a vehicle accident, Outside Plant staff in Gray, Maine, work to reconnect copper and fiber equipment.

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