In 1996, when the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania-based SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) needed to move away from dependence upon a patchwork of its employees' residential dial-up access accounts for its Internet connection at the office, PenTeleData came through with a reliable, high-speed dedicated T1 Internet solution.

Staff and clients of SEDA-COG - a regional multi-county development agency providing leadership, expertise and services to communities, business institutions and residents across Pennsylvania - needed an Internet service provider they could trust that offered reliable networking solutions to rural areas. Shortly after linking SEDA-COG with a T1 Internet connection, PenTeleData provided domain name service and its first website.

Its Geographic Information Systems processed massive digital files and needed to share that data with other local entities - a driving factor that influenced SEDA-COG's decision to commit to PenTeleData's ATM solution. A network technology based on the transfer of data in cells or packets of a fixed size, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) allows equipment to transmit video, audio and computer data over the same network, and assure that no single type of data clogs the line.

Over the next few years, SEDA-COG, central Pennsylvania's Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit and other related agencies developed a proposal to build a physical data network and defined the necessary bandwidth for all its uses.

"As our funding came together and more information was gathered, it became obvious that we had neither the cash, nor equipment, nor staff to build and maintain such a project," says Jim Baker, Chief of the Information Technology Group. "It was decided to use the funding we had to entice providers to come into the area by contracting for that much bandwidth, and PenTeleData's proposal to build an ATM network to supply our needs was the winning proposal."

According to Baker, other vendors couldn't compete with PenTeleData's quality of service capabilities offered by ATM and the ability to use customized, rapidly configurable 'pipes' between users for high-speed, secure data transmissions.

"Excess capacity was offered to the general public, bringing broadband to this area years before it would normally have come," he says.

SEDA-COG runs multiple servers from its location - web, e-mail, map, and FTP and employs a staff of more than 70 professionals in its offices, offers 80 websites from its web server and uses PenTeleData's 800 dial-in service to connect from the road. PenTeleData's ATM network is also used to complete projects for other local organizations that would not have been possible otherwise, says Baker, adding that both the Union and Snyder County courthouses with their shared prison, connected to the same ATM system, were wired with full motion video equipment in all three locations to provide full-time video connections without per-minute charges associated with a standard ISDN connection, Baker says. This project has since been expanded.

"We've connected the three original sites over custom 'pipes' to yet another node on the ATM network which has bridging equipment able to translate ATM video signals for ISDN connectivity anywhere in the world," he adds. "The savings ATM provided, compared to the cost of equipping each of the three sites with this same capability, was significant. Recently, we coordinated with the Carbon Snyder Intermediate Unit to install a gateway so that any of those sites can now connect to the outside world of video conferencing through one single point," he says.

Baker also outlined such application scenarios employed by SEDA-COG and supported by PenTeleData as managing the Snyder County network, from its firewall to its servers and sometimes workstations, over the ATM connection; SEDA-COG's use of PenTeleData's DNS services for many of the websites hosted for nonprofit and government organizations and finally, its joint ventures with PenTeleData's technical and sales staff to find solutions for connectivity and security problems for many of its local clients. In comparing SEDA-COG's technology infrastructure against similar organizations in its industry, SEDA-COG's network is a model, modern operation from an information technology standpoint.

"We think that we are a leader in many ways - from equipment to wiring," he says. "Our internal operations are somewhat unique, however, we are organized into departments which are largely independent so there is no single, central repository of data. Rather, each department tracks its data in a format appropriate to it. For instance, one department runs an in-house developed database on a SunOS system. The GIS departments use ARC as a data repository. And since we are government we deal mostly in words - large amounts of our data are in Word documents."

Always making improvements to SEDA-COG's information technology infrastructure, Baker strives to ensure the network receives top priority.

"I am never content with the network. Unfortunately, the network is seen here as a 'given' much like the air - and no one budgets the 'air' until they can't breathe anymore." he says.

The success of the comprehensive ATM networking and dedicated Internet connection solution employed by longtime customer SEDA-COG demonstrates an effective technology partnership with PenTeleData - specialists to trust to deliver satisfaction, dependability and expandability to any organization on time and on budget.

Welcome to PenTeleData's Chat for the first quarter 2004 - and thank you, our valued customers, for supporting us throughout the years on this, our 10th anniversary. All of us here wish you, your family and friends a warm, safe and happy new year.

In store for this issue, read about how excited PenTeleData is to kick off the New Year and our 10th birthday with a whole host of new improvements to our website, our products and our services. Read about our feature story on the application of an innovative networking service with a long-time partner in local government, and peruse our retrospective on the origins, the vision and the future of PenTeleData, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

From its inception in 1994, PenTeleData continues to strive to be Pennsylvania and New Jersey's affordable, dependable and friendly hometown Internet, networking and security solutions provider. Please read inside on what's in store for the future and how far we've come in a decade.

Our residential and commercial Usenet newsgroup customers now have even more reason to cheer: the recent expansion in our already-robust service offerings makes us the undisputed regional leader in providing accountholders with exactly what they want. Residential customers also can enjoy the benefits of our improved support web pages, offering endless information about PenTeleData account features, current services and upgrades.

Finally, our feature story highlights longtime government services customer SEDA-COG of Lewisburg, Pa. and how its PenTeleData ATM networking solution has accommodated its expansion and encouraged its growth to become a statewide organization with a respected national reputation.

Once again, thank you for all of your years of support, your comments and your business.

Warm Regards,

John H. Williams
PenTeleData
General Manager

Ten years ago, on Sept. 30, 1994, a press release issued by Pencor Services of Palmerton, Pa., announced it was creating a subsidiary company, a partnership of cable television and independent regional telephone companies in eastern Pennsylvania to supply high-speed data and Internet access over existing cable television and telephone infrastructure.

The new company was called PenTeleData.

Initially offering affordable toll-free Internet dial-up access with ProLog Internet Service to residential and commercial customers and high-speed dedicated connections to larger professional organizations, PenTeleData next unveiled two-way cable modem service, ATM, Etherpoint and a whole host of networking services for New Jersey and Pennsylvania clientele in government, education, health care and elsewhere.

"There is no reason why eastern Pennsylvania cannot lead the nation in making data and information services available to those of moderate means," said Fred Reinhard, Vice President for Pencor Services, Inc., at the time.

"We started with six employees, basically four people in a garage and two people in an office in another building offering service in Palmerton and Lehighton in 1994," says Jeff Reinhard, Vice President of Operations for PenTeleData.

Back then, the Internet was largely uncharted territory. Consumers were skeptical of the Internet, barely familiar with e-mail and bulletin board systems and mainly used America Online or CompuServe - two early services that originally didn't connect to the Internet and the World Wide Web or offer customers open access to the new medium.

During that era, small to medium-sized Internet Service Providers began to crop up everywhere, offering residential users and business customers "unlimited dial-up Internet access" to the "information superhighway," promising inexpensive connectivity to a medium mainly used by universities and research facilities the world over.

PenTeleData's advantage over its competition gradually emerged in its long-range strategy, a successful blueprint for the future that continues to carry the company onward and upward. By offering what no one else could - high-speed residential and commercial cable Internet service through its established physical presence in the form of its partners' cable networks throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey - PenTeleData remained stable and profitable while most other competitors succumbed to the national information technology industry fallout a few years ago.

In 1995, PenTeleData became the first provider of data services in the country to offer its customers the ability to connect through their cable television line to the Internet with ProLog Express.

Three years later, PenTeleData acquired competitor MicroServe Information Systems. Based in Wilkes-Barre, PA, MicroServe also offered residential and commercial services throughout PenTeleData's footprint, including small presences in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Today, PenTeleData has grown from half-a-dozen employees in 1994 to a company that accommodates a staff of nearly 150 in a facility of 36,000 square feet.

In ten years, more than one million users of e-mail and the web have counted on PenTeleData to get connected to the Internet, while every day, more than 100,000 PenTeleData customers rely on PenTeleData's trustworthy Internet service and excellence in customer service and support.

PenTeleData continues to expand its network and systems, providing increasingly innovative services and groundbreaking solutions for customers with unique networking requirements, including the creation of the Integration Services Team (IST), a creative department of certified in-house specialists dedicated to implementing comprehensive software, hardware and networking solutions to customers on location.

In the future, watch for high-speed, carrier-class voice service for commercial and residential customers. Voice over IP will extend enhanced dial tone telephone service, Internet and networking service to all PenTeleData Partner customers who also receive cable television service through our partners, all on one connection. This low-cost, highly-reliable service will also offer standard call conferencing, call waiting and voicemail service all on one bill with Internet and cable television.

Throughout the years, PenTeleData wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to you, our customers for your business and continued support. With you, your support, your comments and our partners' expertise, PenTeleData's success is ongoing and the company's products and services continue to lead the competition.

Finally, PenTeleData extends its gratitude to its partners, Service Electric Cable TV and Communications, Service Electric Company, Service Electric Cablevision, CATV Service, Inc., Ironton Telephone and Blue Ridge Communications for ten proud years of cooperation and workmanship.

Recently, PenTeleData implemented a major upgrade to its premier Usenet newsgroup service that now means much more information and many more resources are available to our valued customers.

PenTeleData has also added numerous enhancements to its support web pages for the benefit of residential dial-up customers wishing to learn more about their account and other features, products and services.

On the Usenet newsgroup change, PenTeleData commercial and residential customers now enjoy a further expansion of their service as the upgrade was activated in two phases toward the end of last year.

What are Usenet newsgroups? Usenet newsgroups are message boards and discussion forums stored on a central server, available through any Internet Service Provider (ISP) that offers newsgroup access. When a post is made to a newsgroup from a user from a particular ISP, the post will "propagate" to every other ISP in the world that offers newsgroup service, via the Usenet network. Users may post messages and files to a specific newsgroup and these posts will be made available to anyone in the world who has newsgroup access through their ISP.

Those customers who were paying for roaming news service will no longer be charged for the feature, as all Usenet newsgroup customers now receive free roaming news privileges.

For your reference, please review the following useful links about Usenet newsgroups, links to a new usage page for your service and helpful Usenet newsgroup product and support pages.

For more information about Usenet newsgroup services, please visit www.ptd.net/services /usenet.html. For detailed configuration instructions explaining how to use Usenet newsgroups, and how to switch over to the new configuration please visit www.ptd.net/support/usenet. Also, you can now track your usage on a web page which reports how much data you've transferred located at www.ptd.net/support/usenet.

Further, please carefully read over the enhanced updates we've made to PenTeleData's customer support pages at www.ptd.net/services.

As you'll immediately notice, the section associated with the "services" tab has been redesigned. Information beyond that tab has been designed to be more informative for all of our products including our ProLog Express service.

Improved product definitions and added guides make it even easier for our customers to review or order additional services from any screen. Looking ahead, this new services tab will help improve online customer service as customers continue to receive the same great support and service they have come to expect from PenTeleData.

Finally, your PenTeleData sales representative will be happy to assist with any further questions about any and all changes of these to your Usenet newsgroup service.

- Give the correct answer to all three questions listed below.
- Then figure out the theme (what they all have in common).

To enter you must answer all three questions to the right and what the theme is between them. Send an e-mail to chat@corp.ptd.net with the following information:

your name
address
daytime phone
number (where we can contact you)
three answers to the questions and the theme.

All entries must be received by 1/24/04.

1. What plant/flower is known mostly for being kissed underneath it and for its association with Christmas?
2. What company, founded in 1986, is a strong growing American company producing new innovative designs, applications and services by manufacturing winding shafts and chucks?
3. What is the name of the movie, directed by Paul Anderson in 1999, whose plot was nine peoples lives that were all connected and revolve around the game show "What Do Kids Know?" in one day?

• This special is available to residential full access dial-up customers only.
• New customer cannot have had service with PenTeleData within the last 90 days.
• New customer must commit to a full access dial-up account.
• After the new customer completes 1 full month of service, the referring customer will receive 1 free month of dial-up service.
• Limited to one referring customer per account.
• Current customer is not required to have a full access account.
• Current customer is required to have a Limited Access or Mail-Me account or higher to participate (ProLog Express customers are not eligible for this offer).
• This program is subject to change and/or cancellation at any time without prior notification.