NEW IPO Logo - by Charles Larry Home Search Browse About IPO Staff Links

ILLINOIS CURRENTS NEWS | LEGISLATION | TRENDS | RESEARCH

Satellite technology will provide voice, video and high-speed Internet

Some of America's brightest minds are working on ideas to provide rural residents three key telecommunications services - voice, video and high-speed Internet - using a single technology. Although landline technologies from the telephone or cable TV company can support all three, they cannot deliver them at a profit to remote areas. The same is true of current fixed and mobile wireless services.

Satellite likely will be the answer in the long term, but it is proving to be a more difficult project than many expected. Satellite carriers have long been video providers to rural viewers and recently have begun competing for high-speed Internet subscribers. But satellite technologies in their current forms have difficulty with simple voice service.

The problem is distance. High-powered satellites orbit 20,000-40,000 miles above the earth. It takes a radio signal about a half second to "hop" from a rural consumer on the phone to the satellite and back down to the person on the other end of the call. Telephone connections over very long distances could require multiple hops, resulting in even longer delays. A second or less may not seem like much time, but just try to carry on a normal conversation with those sorts of delays between sentences. It's not that easy. The same delay also complicates other types of interactive communication, such as satellite-delivered teleconferences.

Next-generation satellites, which companies are just beginning to put in orbit, could employ digital processing technologies that mitigate the effects of satellite delay.

Another answer to the problem is bringing the satellites closer to Earth, and a number of companies hope to try that as well. Some already have launched a class of "low-Earth orbiting" (LEO) satellites just 200-500 miles into space. At that considerably closer distance, there is no perceivable delay. But the first wave of LEO services has been a commercial disappointment. The technologies work, but consumers have not accepted the higher costs.

For the near future, many rural residents will continue to get their phone service from telephone companies and co-ops, Internet service from Internet companies and co-ops, and video by cable or satellite, rather than deal with one company.

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) supports more than 1,000 rural utilities in delivering telecommunications and information technology solutions to their communities. Source NRTC www.nrtc.org.


Touchstone Energy cooperatives sponsor Special Olympics


The athletes at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City were inspiring, but there is a special type of athlete right here in Illinois who will show you just as much dedication and determination. Nearly 3,600 athletes from all over the state will compete in the Special Olympics Summer Games June 15 through 17 in Bloomington-Normal. They will recite the Special Olympics oath at the Opening Ceremonies: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Illinois' Touchstone Energy cooperatives were proud to be the Aquatics venue sponsor of the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games last year and will once again be a sponsor. "Touchstone Energy cooperatives are committed to their communities and through volunteer efforts, like the Special Olympics, we all win," says Nancy Nixon, Illinois' Touchstone Energy regional coordinator.

Athletes from ages 8 to over 80 compete in seven sports. Special Olympics is a year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation and closely related developmental disabilities. Volunteers - who help with every aspect of the program - are an important ingredient for the program.

If you know someone who would like to get involved in Special Olympics as an athlete, coach or volunteer, call (800) 394-0562 or go to www.soill.org.

6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING | www.aiec.org


Merger of satellite companies bad for rural consumers

Earlier this year EchoStar, owner of the DISH Network and Hughes-owner of DIRECTV-announced their plans to join, placing the assets of the only two significant U.S. direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers in control of a single company, EchoStar.

For the nearly 17 million Americans currently subscribing to satellite television, completion of this merger as proposed will mean fewer choices. The two satellite companies have long competed for customers, and consumers have enjoyed competitive pricing, technology innovations, and better service as a result. For the millions of satellite subscribers in rural areas not served by cable, this merger will mean a single monopoly provider.

Rural cooperatives and small companies serving rural areas visited about 200 congressional offices and got almost immediate results. Ninety members of the House "Rural Caucus" co-signed a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft and FCC Chairman Michael Powell in December, calling on the federal agencies to protect rural consumers' interests.

Illinois Representative Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), Ray LaHood (R-Peoria), David Phelps (D-Eldorado) and John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) all signed the letter.

If you are a rural consumer and would like to share your views about the proposed merger, e-mail the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative at SatelliteTV@nrtc.org. You also may want to copy your members of Congress. To e-mail your representative and senators, visit http://takeaction.nreca.org. Source: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative www.nrtc.org.


Senate energy bill shows promise for co-ops

A Senate energy bill introduced earlier this year is a step in the right direction for co-ops.

One of the most favorable things for consumers in the bill, S. 1766, is that it increases federal regulation of mega-mergers of electric utilities. Mega-mergers could lead to market abuses and higher rates. The bill requires public utilities, holding companies and independent generators to get Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for mergers and consolidations.

Although the bill repeals the Public Utilities Holding Company Act, a 1930s law that prevented electric generation and transmission companies from having market power through mergers and acquisitions, it does provide the consumer protections that electric co-ops have fought hard for.

For the most part, S. 1766 leaves issues of retail distribution of electricity, specifically distributed generation, interconnection standards, net metering, and real-time pricing, to state regulatory control rather than federal oversight. This move will ultimately keep prices lower for consumers and prevent conflicts between federal and state laws.

On the House side, proposed energy legislation (H.R. 3406) is not as consumer friendly, according to co-op leaders. The National Rural Electric Association (NRECA) testified against the bill. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission members as well as state regulators, consumer groups, and utilities also testified against provisions of the bill.

NRECA opposes the bill because the measure is not consumer-friendly and would raise costs without improving service. The bill would also insert federal authorities between co-ops and their members. The bill is very favorable, however, to investor-owned utilities. Source: Electric Power Daily; Electric Co-op Today


Canton ethanol plant moves forward

"We're almost there," says Central Illinois Energy (CIE) General Manager Mike Smith. CIE is a proposed $40-million corn-processing ethanol plant that would be built three-and-a-half-miles south of Canton in Fulton County.

Since the public stock offering began last year, $14 million of a targeted $16 million in equity has been raised. Smith, who farms near London Mills in addition to his CIE responsibilities, is very confident the project will continue to move forward. A major reason for that confidence is grant opportunities that could result in more than the $2 million still needed. Smith said negotiations are already underway with banks to finance the remaining $24 million needed to begin construction. Construction would be slated to start this summer and be completed in time for the facility to begin accepting corn and producing ethanol in the Fall of 2003. At full capacity, it would produce 30 million gallons of ethanol a year and have about 35 fulltime employees.

Central Illinois Energy is an initiative of a group of Fulton County area farmers and agri-business people called the Central Illinois Ag Coalition, or CIAC. When completed, CIE will be only the second farmer-invested ethanol plant in Illinois. The other is a $68 million, 40 million gallon a year, facility that has been under construction in Lena, Illinois since July of last year.

For more information about the project, contact Mike Smith at (309) 668-3299 or msmith@ciaconline.com.

APRIL 2002 • ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 7


The Orphan Train - part of American history
       By Gina M. Troppa

Have you ever heard of the Orphan Train? Are you familiar with the largest child migration to take place in the history of the world?

The Orphan Train is an important part of American history. It paved the way for modern foster care. It introduced the idea of a "social worker." It was the beginning of our country's welfare system.

Within the last few years, a number of authors have given notice to the Orphan Train. Overall, the story is not widely known, nor is it published in school history books. Yet, after meeting some of the original Orphan Train riders, a researcher by the name of Mary Ellen Johnson established the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America.

Johnson recently visited central Illinois in January to participate in a pre-show presentation for the premiere of The Track Home. The Track Home is an original play, written and directed by Kari Catton Anderson, depicting the stories of the Orphan Train riders.

Anderson stumbled onto the story of the Orphan Train while searching for some strong motivation for her upcoming play Healin' Home, which premieres May 3 at the New Salem Visitor's Center. She was amazed at the story she had discovered and completed extensive research about the topic. Anderson cites her love of children as a reason for becoming so passionate about the stories and journeys of the Orphan Train rides.


The Orphan Train began in the 1850's when Charles Loring Brace, a young Methodist minister who had gone to New York to complete his seminary training, formed The Children's Aid Society. Brace was deeply bothered by the large number of homeless children living on the streets. Realizing he could not possibly care for all of the displaced children in the city, Brace worked to arrange and raise money to "relocate" them.

Over a period of 75 years, more than 250,000 children were "placed out" or sent on trains to be adopted by families in the Midwest. Handbills were posted along the Orphan Train's route, which mainly ran through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. Any family interested in adopting a child went to meet the train.

Brace created the program with the best intentions and his idea provided a base for modern foster care development. There are countless success stories and many riders are thankful for the opportunities the Orphan Train gave them. Yet, many different perspectives to the story exist. Some children faced the traumatic experience of being separated from their siblings. Many children were neglected, abused or used as free labor. And several just ran away.


These accounts have created a great deal of controversy surrounding Brace's efforts. This, along with the Depression and the development of welfare programs, brought the Orphan Train to an end in 1930.

Although the story of the Orphan Train is not included in American history textbooks, Anderson hopes it will be in the near future. "Kids want to learn about other kids," she says.

"The history of the Orphan Train touches on the beginning of welfare. It is the first use of 'social workers.' It deals with foster care development and it even reveals that abandoned children in New York City created the very first 'gangs.' It is truly a fascinating subject," says Anderson.

For more information about the Orphan Train, visit www.orphan trainriders.com or www.pbs.org or write to: The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America, 604 E. Emma Ave. #115, Springdale, AR 72786.

If you are interested in seeing Andersen's Healin' Home May 3-5 and 10-12, call the New Salem Visitor's Center for ticket information at (217) 632-4000.

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING | www.aiec.org



 

Old wiring does not get better with age
 

    

Unlike fine wine, house wiring, outlets and switches don't get better with age. In fact, the older the wiring, the more chances there are for potentially serious electrical hazards. Wires with broken or brittle insulation and outlets worn out from years of use are frequently cited as the cause of house fires.

If your home was built more than 60 years ago, the Leviton Institute recommends that you call a licensed electrical contractor to inspect your home's wiring and wiring devices. This inspection is particularly important if you've added appliances that use a lot of electricity, such as a clothes dryer, air conditioner, space heater or dishwasher.

Here are the most frequently asked questions homeowners have about older house wiring:

1. What are the signs of potential electrical hazards in the home? Some things to look for: Room lights dim when the refrigerator or air conditioner kicks on; the television screen shrinks; circuit breakers frequently trip or fuses frequently blow; outlets or dimmer switches seem hot to the touch. These conditions indicate that the electrical wiring in your house is overloaded.

2. Is an old-fashioned fuse box a hazard? The short answer is no, because fuses provide the same protection against overloaded wiring as circuit breakers. However, when fuse boxes were in widespread use, most homes had only 30 or 60-ampere service. Today's homes need at least 150 to 200 ampere service to safely supply power for major appliances. If you have a fuse box and you've added any large appliances over the years, the Leviton Institute recommends that you have an electrical contractor inspect your home wiring to make sure it's still safe.

3. How can I tell when an electrical outlet isn't safe? There are three indicators of an unsafe outlet. If an outlet can no longer hold a plug snugly; if any parts of the outlet are broken; or if the outlet feels hot to the touch. If any of these conditions exist, the outlet should be replaced.

4. Can I add more outlets in the kitchen? Most likely, yes. And don't forget to install GFCI outlets in the kitchen. You should also check your homeowners insurance policy and local laws, since you may be required to have a licensed electrician do this type of work rather than a handyman.

5. How long does electrical wiring last? That's a hard question to answer, since it depends on the type of use and abuse the system has experienced over the years. If you have any doubts about your wiring, or notice some frayed or broken insulation, have a complete inspection of your home's electrical wiring.

6. How long do outlets and switches last? It depends on use. Electricians will tell you they see outlets more than 50 years old that still work fine, and others that are worn out after only a few years.

Source: The Leviton Institute (www.leviton.com)


APRIL 2002 • ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 9


|Home| |Search| |Back to Periodicals Available| |Table of Contents| |Back to Illinois Country Living 2002|
Illinois Periodicals Online (IPO) is a digital imaging project at the Northern Illinois University Libraries funded by the Illinois State Library