COMPTEL: INDATELgroup Announces New Member

INDATELgroup (Booth 915), an organization owned by independent telcos that provides alternate access and wholesale services in rural areas, announced a new member, Peninsula Fiber Networks (PFN) LLC, which is based in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

PFN is a fiber-optic transport company owned by Hiawatha Communications and Baraga Telephone Company. PFN spans Michigan’s upper peninsula, and also extends into Ontario, Canada.

“We’re delighted to have PFN as our newest member, and we look forward to their participation and leadership in our group," said INDATELgroup Vice President Scott Hoffmann. INDATELgroup is a COMPTEL sponsor.

PFN’s primary objective is to transport voice, data or video traffic, SONET, and Ethernet in its region, said Hoffman, who added that the new member currently carries all of the Internet bandwidth for three Michigan universities, tying the universities together across the upper peninsula. PFN also carries traffic for five telephone companies and multiple ISPs.

“This organization has already proved an excellent resource for us with respect to technical and marketing issues — all of us sharing common missions and challenges,” said Bill Tidd, founder and manager of PFN.

Tidd attended INDATELgroup meetings in the past, where members convene to share their best business practices, as well as discuss a variety of technical initiatives across regions.

“It’s nice to hear that the things we’re trying to achieve in the upper peninsula of Michigan — the different aspects of our growth — might be similar to the folks in Montana or South Carolina,” said Tidd. “It certainly helps validate some of the approaches we’ve taken, and gives us insight on what’s been successful for others.”

Scott Hoffmann said that having PFN join the INDATELgroup continues to highlight the group’s growth, and the benefits of sharing ideas and resources across different parts of the country.

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