Dealer Program News

CableFAX Magazine Presents 2012 Independent Technology Award to Comporium ORLANDO, F.L. - (July 23, 2012) -

ORLANDO, F.L. - (July 23, 2012) - Comporium was among the 2012 “Top Ops” awards recipients in the recent July 2012 CableFAX: The Magazine edition. The recognition for the “Independent Technology Award of the Year” is related to Comporium’s security and home automation service. The full digital version of the July 2012 magazine issue can be found at http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vcfax12/i1/p1.

The company’s most recent honor was publicized by CableFAX as many of the cable TV industries’ representatives attended The Independent Show hosted by the National Cable Television Cooperative through July 25 at the Orlando Convention Center. Representatives of Comporium’s Wholesale Security, Monitoring and Automation group are attending, and they are hosting Booth #11 in the Exhibit Hall.

In addition to investing in and utilizing the iControl platform for its own customer base of digital video subscribers in South and North Carolina, Comporium also assists Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) and telecommunications companies across the country with its Wholesale Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Dealer Program.

“We are excited and honored to have been selected by CableFAX Magazine for this honor,” said Comporium’s Dan Lehman, director/general manager – SMA. “We have been in the telecommunications and cable TV businesses for quite awhile, and the development of this technology ranks among the most lifestyle changing ones that have ever come along.”

Comporium has been offering security systems and monitoring for 25 years, and several years ago it invested in the “connected home” technology that is now promoted through Palo Alto, Calif., based iControl Networks. This same technology is the foundation of security and home monitoring services being offered by Time Warner Cable, which was also recognized for its IntelligentHome service by CableFAX, and Comcast.

“We saw it coming some time ago, but with the deep penetration of high-speed Internet access and the advent of smartphones and tablets, the ‘connected home’ is now literally at our fingertips,” Lehman added. “Cable TV, telecommunications and power industries can create real value to their customers and also increase revenues and profits.”

Comporium, the nation’s 13th largest telecommunications provider and 27th largest MSO has its own Central Station Alarm Association Five Diamond Certified monitoring station. In addition, the company provides training, technical support and marketing support for its wholesale customers. Lehman was attributed to saying that he “…expects customer uptake to happen quickly.” The company recently announced that it had increased its own staff by 60 percent in recent months to prepare to meet the demand.

About Comporium Security Dealer Program
The Comporium Wholesale SMA Dealer Program enables companies to expand their product bundles through home security with the Touch Screen device and apps that provide access to information such as traffic, weather and sports news. Comporium is a communications company providing the “Quintuple Play” of services at the retail level. To learn how to enhance your bottom line, visit the Comporium Wholesale SMA Dealer Program Booth #11 at The Independent Show or click on www.comporium.com.

Comporium Increases SMA (Security, Monitoring, and Automation) Program Staff ORLANDO, F.L. ( July 19, 2012 )

ORLANDO, F.L. - (July 19, 2012) - Comporium’s Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Dealer Program is feeling the increased demand from cable TV and telecommunications providers, which are seeking new sources of revenue and margins.

“The ‘connected home’ market potential and growth is phenomenal,” said Comporium’s Dan Lehman, director/general manager of SMA. “We’ve had to expand our staff by 60 percent in just a few recent months to keep pace with the interest in interactive security and home management services. This wave is for real, and we’re getting ready for the big push.”

Two of the most recent additions to the Comporium Dealer Program staff are national account managers Rob Bridges and Brad Sparks, both of whom will be found at the Comporium booth (#11) during “The Independent Show” hosted by the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) here July 22-25. At Comporium, Bridges and Sparks are responsible for helping MSOs launch and deploy the Comporium SMA Platform with the backing of Comporium’s extensive hosting and monitoring services. Tony Davis, who is a technical support representative, is another recent addition who will also be at Comporium’s booth.

“These gentlemen are relatively new faces on our Wholesale SMA team, but they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from the cable, telecom and security industries,” Lehman added. “I’ve been actively involved in the sales and support of alarm products and services since 1987, and they also bring decades of experience. We also just added Kevan Cooper as emerging product manager to the team. I know that we’re strongly positioned to bring the ‘connected home’ business to other companies.”

Lehman said that the career paths of the latest recruits to the Comporium Wholesale SMA Dealer Program are impressive. The list of previous employers includes: AT&T Solutions, Sprint, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, FOX Networks, Perimeter eSecurity, Jones Intercable, Technicolor and CableLabs.

“These guys understand how MSOs (Multiple System Operators), telcos and security businesses work from many perspectives,” Lehman added. “I learn something new every time we talk. I mean, Tony even worked at one time as a contractor for NASA, and right now, I feel like smart home technologies and services are about to take off like a rocket!”

Bridges has 25 years of experience in the cable/satellite industry, both on the operating and programming sides of the business. Before joining Comporium, he served five years as the southeast region director of affiliate sales and marketing for FOX Networks. He previously worked as director of operations for Charter Communications, vice president of digital programming at Inspiration Networks, and held several management positions in marketing and operations for Jones Intercable, Inc.

Sparks has been in the cable TV industry since 1998 when he took on marketing and sales for the first CableLabs certified DOCSIS 1.0 cable modem. For the past six years, Sparks served as director of business development at Technicolor with a focus on delivering broadband and connected home solutions to North American cable operators. His background also includes design engineering and product management.
Davis previously spent four years at Perimeter eSecurity as a senior account manager/technical sales engineer. He also held technical positions on projects for Wells Fargo and Ross Stores in addition to his stint at NASA. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and also holds Cisco Certifications as a Network Professional, Network Associate and Design Associate.

Comporium’s Wholesale SMA Dealer Program will exhibit its SMA Platform powered by iControl and will feature the Technicolor Digital Delivery Group’s new TouchScreen, an all-in-one security enabled tablet, combining a powerful chipset, increased RAM and flash memory designed specifically for the connected home.
Comporium’s dealers are growing their businesses by adding interactive home security services and other features. Comporium supports them with technical and sales know-how and its UL certified Central Monitoring Station, which earned the Central Station Alarm Association’s Five Diamond Certification last April. The Comporium Wholesale SMA Dealer Program also provides preferred pricing on equipment, business application and licensing assistance, and proven training and marketing support.

Comporium Security Receives CSAA’s Five Diamond Central Station Certification
ROCK HILL, S.C. ( April 17, 2012 )

ROCK HILL, S.C. - (April 17, 2012) - The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), based in Vienna, Va., announced that Comporium Security has received the prestigious “CSAA Five Diamond Certification.”

This Certification testifies that 100 percent of Comporium’s central station operators have achieved proficiency and certification by passing the CSAA Central Station On-Line Operator Training Course. These courses cover virtually all phases of central station communications with customers, law enforcement, fire and emergency services communications centers. This critical area of communications is the life-saving link between the residential or business properties and the law enforcement, fire and emergency services in local areas.

In order to achieve the “Five Diamond Certification,” each and every operator must have not only passed the course, but demonstrated the following:

• Proficiency in alarm verification, which helps reduce false alarms
• Proficiency in communications with the Public Service Answering Points, such as the Emergency 911 centers
• Knowledge of electronic communications equipment, including radio
• An understanding of the codes and standards of such organizations as Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual, the National Fire Protection Association and others
• Proficiency in the area of emergency preparedness under a wide scenario of possibilities.

In addition, these Five Diamond companies have demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their local community and their customers through the investment of time, money and commitment to 100 percent quality operator training.

There are approximately 2,700 central stations in the United States, which communicate and interact with the law enforcement, fire and emergency services agencies. Of this group, fewer than 150 central stations have achieved the “Five Diamond Certified” status.

About CSSA
The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) is a 62 year-old non-profit trade association that represents the major burglar and fire alarm central monitoring stations. CSAA is located in Vienna, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C.

About Comporium
The Comporium Group of companies make life easier for their residential and commercial customers to access a broad range of communications services, including local telephone, long distance, wireless, cable TV, Internet, security, and media services. Please visit www.comporium.com for more information.

NTCA Awards Comporium, iControl First Place for 'Hot Technology'
TAMPA, FLA. ( Feb. 09, 2010 )

TAMPA, FLA. - (Feb. 09, 2010) -

Comporium and uControl recently received top recognition from the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) for the best cutting-edge technology at the recent NTCA Expo '10.

Comporium featured its Security Dealer Program and showcased uControl's Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Platform and the industry's only "All-In-One" SMA TouchScreen from SMC, which combines an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform into one device.

Comporium and uControl will participate in the National Cable Television Cooperatives' Winter Educational Conference in Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 22-23. The companies will also appear at the National Cable Television Association's Cable Show '10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 11-13.

NewWave Communications Signs with Comporium Security Dealer Program
ORLANDO, Fla. ( Nov. 12, 2009 )

ORLANDO, Fla. - (Nov. 12, 2009) - NewWave and Comporium are pleased to announce that NewWave has joined the Comporium Security Dealer Program. This will expand NewWave's communications services, which include the Triple Play of Internet, television, and telephone services. NewWave is the nation's 27th largest cable TV provider with operations in six states.

"Comporium provides a unique combination of start-up support and industry contacts with innovators like uControl," said Larry Eby, senior vice president of operations for NewWave Communications. "We want to provide our customers with a range of security services from intrusion monitoring to smoke detection to the futuristic remote home and family management features provided by the uControl SMA Platform."

Comporium recently announced that it has added uControl's Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Platform to its suite of security services. uControl's award winning solution pairs its open, technology agnostic software infrastructure with the industry's only "All-In-One" SMA TouchScreen from SMC Networks - combining an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform into one device. The SMA Platform enables Broadband Service Providers to deliver the next generation of services for the Connected Home.

Comporium's Security Dealer Program shows innovative service providers how to break into the profitable home security industry. In addition to wholesale security monitoring through Comporium's ULÂ® approved Central Station, the Dealer Program also provides technical support, training for sales and service technicians, and "customize and go" marketing campaigns to ensure success.

"We welcome NewWave to our Dealer Program," said Dan Lehman, general manager of the Comporium Security Dealer Program. "Our dealers report that security services complement both cable television and telephone services while leveraging their existing assets to expand company revenue. Our partnership with uControl expands the range of security services in our program. uControl's platform allows us to immediately offer a future-proof, IP-enabled home security solution that bridges to other Connected Home services like energy management, video monitoring and much more."

About NewWave Communications
NewWave Communications is a cable television, high-speed Internet, and digital telephone service provider serving Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee. Our goal at NewWave Communications is to ensure our customers are provided with the best products and services at an affordable price. Visit New Wave for more details.

About uControl
uControl is a leading provider of next-generation home security and automation solutions. The uControl Home Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Platform enables Broadband Service Providers to deliver the next generation of services for the Connected Home. uControl's award winning solution pairs its open, technology agnostic infrastructure with the industry's only "All-In-One" SMA TouchScreen combining an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform into one device. Beyond home security, the uControl SMA Platform delivers the next generation of energy management, home health monitoring and Connected Home services that customers will demand. For more information, go touControl.

About Comporium
Comporium is a diversified communications company providing a Quintuple Play of five services -- voice, video, data, wireless and security -- at the retail level; as well as, providing security monitoring and directory publishing for its industry customers. From its beginning as a local telephone exchange company since 1894, Comporium is now the nation's 16th largest Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier and the 34th largest cable provider. More information can be found on Comporium.