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Mescalero Apache Telecom to Provide Triple Play Services
TMCnet Communications and Broadband Columnist
The tribally owned and operated Telco contracted with Occam, an Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment supplier, to deliver a full range of Triple Play services, including IP Video, to its subscribers.
Godfrey Enjay, general manager and founder of MATI commented that it was important to his company to provide members of the tribe with state-of-the-art telecommunications services like ADSL2Plus and IP Video in order to help the tribe to meet its goals for economic development. With adequate telecommunication technology, MATI can help in the provision of health care and other social services equal to that of all citizens.
There are 576 recognized tribes in the United States and MATI is one of seven Telecoms that provide telecommunication services to its members. The fiber ring that MATI has built encompasses 90 percent of the Mescalero Apache Reservation and a MetaSwitch VP3510 Integrated Softswitch to deliver next-generation POTS and IP-based subscriber services makes the Telco’s infrastructure one of the most up-to-date in the nation.
As recently as 2001, only 47 percent of American Indians were able to utilize regular phone service. The Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, the largest in the United States, represented an even smaller percentage, 22.5 percent which meant that 453,269 households did not have phone service.
Both cost and location have proven to be obstacles for those living on the reservations to be able to receive the basic traditional phone service. It is believed that having a strong, up-to-date telecommunications technology is the first step towards creating the sound technological foundation that can assist in the economic rejuvenation that is greatly needed on many reservations.
The FCC actively implemented measures to boost service to reservations. Two significant programs, Link-Up America and Lifeline Assistance provided financial assistance so that even the poorest of Americans would be able to pay a monthly phone bill.
MATI continually assists other tribes in the purchase and operation of tribally owned telecommunications companies. Dozens of tribal leaders from across the nation visit MATI annually to analyze and study the MATI telecommunication network.
The BLC 6000 is expected to be deployed in approximately 14 remote terminals as MATI upgrades existing remote sites and builds five new remote sites. The Telco anticipates that the installation will be complete and services will be able to be delivered over the BLC 6000 in the first quarter of 2006. Upon its completion, all 1500 access lines will be ADSL2Plus and IP video ready.
MATI is a full-service telecommunications company providing local and long distance telephone, high-speed Internet and wired and wireless local-and wide-area networking services. Headquartered in Mescalero, New Mexico, MATI was founded in 2001.
A black eye on the face of the United States is the disparity in the basic services available to those American Indians residing on the reservations in comparison to those which most of us take for granted every day. One FCC representative claimed that some Native American communities were being charged between $40,000 and $150,000 just to install one phone line. Ideally, this type of expense would put traditional phone service out of economic reach for a large portion of US citizens.
MATI is making strides in providing not only the basic services to the Mescalero Apache Reservation, but also providing the technology to move its citizens into a brighter economic future.
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